Vera Harding is the manipulating and demeaning wife of Dale Harding. Although she only visits the Ward one time for a few short minutes her impact on the men, specifically her husband is felt for a long time. Dale is on the Ward because of her, she makes him feel like he is not a man, she makes fun of him such as when she says "when are you going to learn to laugh instead of making that mousy little squeak? (page 184). She points out her husbands insecurities instead of leaving them be and making her husband happy. The reason he is in the Ward is also because of his wife's femininity, "(her) ample bosom at times gives him a feeling of inferiority," (page 44). Wive's typically make their husbands or spouse feel more masculine and building their confidence, but Vera does the complete opposite. She actually makes a remark to Harding about his homosexuality when saying that the men who stop by "flip more than his damned limp wrists” (page 185). Without outright saying he does not satisfy her, she is saying the men who stop by are more masculine than he ever will be. Without Vera Harding, Dale Harding would possibly not be in the Ward and feel more confident in himself and his sexuality.