If the big difference is that the first one is romanticized[1] and the second one isn't, I'm not entirely certain they're all that different (although it's enti

If the big difference is that the first one is romanticized[1] and the second one isn't, I'm not entirely certain they're all that different (although it's entirely possible I'm misunderstanding you). It's not like the guy hasn't had chances to change his situation; his refusal to do so suggests that he's in it more or less willingly. [1] At least, that's what I think you mean by "romantic".