83 Carmen Maria Machado’s “The Husband Stitch”
In This Chapter
Author Background
Carmen Maria Machado is an acclaimed American writer known for her innovative and thought-provoking works of fiction and nonfiction. She was born on April 30, 1986, in Allentown, Pennsylvania. Machado’s writing often explores themes of feminism, queerness, sexuality, body image, and the complexities of human relationships.
Machado holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Iowa and a Master of Fine Arts degree in Fiction from the Iowa Writers’ Workshop. She has received numerous accolades for her work, including the Bard Fiction Prize, the National Book Critics Circle John Leonard Prize, and a Guggenheim Fellowship.
Writing Career
Machado gained widespread recognition with the publication of her debut short story collection, Her Body and Other Parties, in 2017. The collection, which blends elements of horror, science fiction, and magical realism, explores the experiences of women and the ways in which their bodies are shaped and controlled by society.
One of Machado’s most notable works is her memoir and blend of essayistic fiction, In the Dream House, published in 2019. The book examines her own experience of being in an abusive same-sex relationship, combining personal narrative with cultural analysis and literary references.
Machado’s writing style is often characterized by its experimental and lyrical nature. She plays with structure, form, and genre conventions to create narratives that challenge traditional storytelling norms and push the boundaries of literary fiction. Her works often confront social and cultural norms, offering fresh perspectives on gender, sexuality, and power dynamics.
Machado’s writings have garnered critical acclaim and have been widely anthologized. Her work has appeared in prestigious publications such as The New Yorker, Granta, and Guernica, among others.
You can borrow and read Carmen Maria Machado’s “The Husband Stitch” with a free account on Internet Archive. It starts on page 3 in Her Body and Other Parties:
https://archive.org/details/herbodyotherpart0000mach_h8a1/page/n267/mode/2up
- The title of the story, “The Husband Stitch,” is a reference to a traditional practice in which a woman’s husband requests a stitch to be added to her body after childbirth. What do you think this title signifies in relation to the themes explored in the story?
- Discuss the role of gender and power dynamics in “The Husband Stitch.” How does the story depict societal expectations and pressures placed on women? In what ways does it explore issues of control, agency, and the boundaries of personal autonomy?
- “The Husband Stitch” incorporates elements of folklore and urban legends. How does this blend of myth and reality contribute to the overall meaning and impact of the story? What do these narrative devices reveal about the themes of desire, secrecy, and the tension between societal norms and personal fulfillment?
- The story contains various references to stories and folklore featuring women who have been silenced, oppressed, or punished. How does the protagonist‘s obsession with these stories reflect her own experiences and struggles? How do these tales connect to the larger theme of the societal suppression of women’s voices and desires?
- Explore the symbolism of the ribbon that appears throughout the story. What does it represent, both literally and metaphorically? How does it serve as a metaphor for the constraints placed on women within patriarchal structures?
- Discuss the use of first-person narration in “The Husband Stitch.” How does the narrator’s voice and perspective shape our understanding of the story’s themes and events? How does her storytelling style enhance the sense of intimacy and personal vulnerability in the narrative?
- Examine the significance of the ending of “The Husband Stitch.” How does it reflect the overall themes and messages of the story? What insights does it offer about the cost of societal expectations, the yearning for personal autonomy, and the pursuit of genuine connection?
- Machado employs vivid and sensual imagery throughout the story. How does her use of descriptive language enhance the reader’s experience and contribute to the emotional impact of the narrative? How does it deepen our understanding of the characters and their desires?
- “The Husband Stitch” explores themes of desire, sexuality, and the negotiation of personal boundaries within intimate relationships. How does the story challenge societal norms and expectations surrounding female sexuality? What commentary does it offer on the topics of consent, agency, and the right to personal fulfillment?
- Reflect on the story’s relevance to contemporary discussions on feminism and gender inequality. How does “The Husband Stitch” resonate with current debates about women’s autonomy, bodily autonomy, and the societal pressures placed on women’s roles and identities?
Sources
Machado, Carmen Maria. “The Husband Stitch.” Her Body and Other Parties, Greywolf Press, 2017, pp. 3-31.
Machado, Carmen Maria. “The Husband Stitch.” Her Body and Other Parties, Internet Archive, uploaded by station14.cebu, 7 Apr. 2021, https://archive.org/details/herbodyotherpart0000mach_h8a1/page/n267/mode/2up
Folktales are stories in the oral tradition, or tales that people tell each other out loud, rather than stories in written form.
A myth is a traditional story, especially one concerning the early history of a people or explaining some natural or social phenomenon, and typically involving supernatural beings or events.
A protagonist is the main character of a story. The protagonist makes key decisions that affect the plot, primarily influencing the story and propelling it forward, and is often the character who faces the most significant obstacles.
A theme is a central topic, subject, or message within a narrative.
Symbols take the form of words, sounds, gestures, ideas, or visual images and are used to convey other ideas and beliefs. For example, a red octagon is a common symbol for "STOP"; on maps, blue lines often represent rivers; and a red rose often symbolizes love and compassion.
A metaphor is a figure of speech that, for rhetorical effect, directly refers to one thing by mentioning another. It may provide clarity or identify hidden similarities between two different ideas. Metaphors are usually meant to create a likeness or an analogy.
Imagery is visual symbolism, or figurative language that evokes a mental image or other kinds of sense impressions.
