Essay Questions

How does Carmen Maria Machado explore the theme of abuse in same-sex marriages?

Throughout the novel, Machado narrates her experiences as a lesbian and the challenges she has gone through at the hands of her lovers. Interestingly, Machado reveals how people intentionally assume that nothing bad happens to same-sex marriages. In a particular example, Machado shares how a woman partner from the dream house mistreated her sexually. After getting married, the dream house woman abused Machado physically and emotionally. Besides having multiple partners, the dream house woman physically abused Machado and forced her to keep quiet.

What is the emblematic connotation of the dream house in the memoir?

The memoir mentions the dream house extensively to represent Machado's suffering and anxiety. Readers realize that the dream house is real, where Machado meets her abusive partner. Whenever Machado remembers the dream house, she feels the pain that women go through in silence at the hands of their same-sex partners. Throughout her research, Machado discovers that women do not report their sexual abuses because they fear humiliation.

Why is Pastor Joel determined to convince Machado to attend his church services?

Pastor Joel is one of the most sarcastic characters in the memoir because he purports to be a church minister, but his actions speak otherwise. When Pastor Joel first meets Machado, he gets sexually attracted to her, believing the only way to win her is to bring her closer to his church. Pastor Joel is a sexual predator because he uses the tactic of luring young girls to church so that he can abuse them sexually.