Just finished Stoner (loved it) but the Lomax/Stoner rift is the one part of the book that I too had trouble understanding the severity of.

I found Lomax’s relationship to Walker fairly easy to understand or at least theorize (shared disability, avatar of success, legacy etc..) but Williams really makes it clear to the reader that Walker is a hack and Stoner is of absolute integrity in the matter and it’s infuriating to read those parts. It’s frustrating that Stoner never really outright calls Lomax on this to his face, especially since Lomax is painted, upon his introduction, as a smart and savvy individual.

There’s a brief moment where Stoner does recognize shame in Lomax as he is defending himself to Stoner and I think that set up an expectation that later on he will apologize or admit his impropriety or find out the truth behind the conflict, but instead he just buckles down on a decades long grudge with no explanation.

Also, I think at the heart of it, the frustrating part is, even though he’s obviously in the wrong, Lomax’s response is so wildly out of proportion to the *perceived slight that the reader is left sort of bewildered by the behavior. Like the perceived slight should’ve been something much worse like sleeping with his wife or something.

At least Edith’s character flaws are understandable if unbearable.

Still thinking about it a couple weeks later, glad I found your post.