] ] Since Henry and Eleanor turned out so well, you might think it to be out of character -

] I am not so sure that turn out that OK.
] I think that until the very end we see them giving in to the G’s controlling behavior.

I was unclear, and you have said what I meant to say. I meant "Turned out okay" to be applied to the very end, as you say. They both married and "got away" from the General.

] Maybe here is the source of Henry’s sense of humor. This is his only tool to fight his father’s oppression. He could not protect himself, his sister (&possibly his mother) from the general’s bursts of wrath, but he could make them all laugh afterward, when he is gone.
] He learned to make fun and light of every situation. It’s a very useful protective mechanism.

Exactly so! You bring to remembrance a beloved cousin who did exactly that. All those growing up years, I simply thought he was being funny. Later on, I became aware of his overbearing father (a GT). I had not connected the behaviors, so Thank you.

] More so: ‘Making light of things’ instead of really tackling them could also be the reason why Henry chooses not to talk to Frederick about IT. He is use to staying out of the way, let things happen.

] Fredrick on the other hand is a different story. He probably does have more of his father’s genes. His way of handling the General is simply staying away as far and as long as possible.

] Another protective mechanism for Henry & Eleanor is to escape into a good book.