I can't stop thinking how much the story resembles the life of a schizo man in 1920s:

Life is normal. People rely on him. Has a job that doesn't really matter but pays the bills. Some day inexplicably "something breaks" in him. He is no longer himself. Everything gets harder. Feels disgusted, powerless, uncapable and guilty. Retreats from society. His room is all there is. Family don't get it and resent him for being weird. He resents the people for not understanding or helping him. He is a burden to his family.