Poor old Pete. Didn't know that the big wide world out there was going to be tough for a man with little education.

Had this been published today, there is no way Pete would have been married. Instead, the turnaround would have happened in the form of the "root-myth". The beauty myth tells a woman that if she uses product X she will become more beautiful. The root-myth (as seen in male clothing /shaving /deodorant /car ads) tells a man that it he uses the product it will lead to sex.

Pete would have been turned down by Helen at the beach, inspiring him to action and leading to the same final conclusion: "Great! Wait'll I tell Helen!"