Essay Questions

According to Sittenfeld, why is it significant to be cautious before introducing your spouse to your male friends?

The reader can realize that Sittenfeld is passing a critical lesson to married couples. Kate is married to Jeremy, and they are a good couple blessed with two children. Jeremy introduces Kate to Courtney and her husband Hank because he is working for Hank. As time goes by, Kate starts getting attracted to Hank, and they become good friends. Jeremy is not suspicious of this friendship because they are family friends and their children attend the same music school. Kate and her twin sister Violet predict that on 16th October, there will be a destructive earthquake, and they warn people to take caution. However, many people, including Jeremy, do not take this seriously. On a material day, when the earthquake is supposed to occur, Jeremy goes out for the weekend as usual. Kate finds an opportunity to invite Hank over to her place, and the romance begins. Hank holds Kate on his lap, kissing her, and having a good time with her in bed. The two keep their sexual relationship a secret. The author does not reveal whether Jeremy came to discover the illicit sexual affair between his wife and his close friend, Hank.

What is the relationship between Kate and Violet?

Kate and Violet are twin sisters with sharps contrast, but they remain loving and united. For instance, Kate is sexually attracted to men, while Violet is sexually attracted to fellow women. On that note, Kate is married to Jeremy with two kids, but Violet is dating a fellow woman called Stephanie. Consequently, Violet is not going to have biological kids because she does not have a husband. Regardless of these sharp contrasts, Kate and Violet are loving twin sisters ready to support each other. When Violet tells Kate that she predicts the worst earthquake, she believes her and gives her moral support. People do not take this warning seriously except the twin sisters. Nevertheless, the expected earthquake does not occur on that day, but afterward, there are a series of earthquakes.

What is the irony of the predictive earthquake by Violet on 16th October?

Kate is aware of her twin sister's prophecy, and she helps her come to the limelight to warn people before the earthquake occurs. Kate's husband is also aware of the warning, but he does not take it seriously because he goes out for the weekend on that day. Ironically, Kate invites Hank to come over to her place when Jeremy goes out. The reader wonders what is going on in Kate's head because she is anticipating having the best sexual experience with Hank that day; she believes that there will be the worst earthquake.