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108. Dream House as Déjà Vu
Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in In the Dream House, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Queer Visibility
Christianity and Shame
Abuse, Trauma, and Healing
Storytelling, Responsibility, and Freedom
Summary
Analysis
In the present, Machado describes a murder mystery plot in which a dinner guest is stabbed and has her tiara stolen. Strangely, the value of the knife, still in her chest, is higher than that of the tiara. While the reporter on the scene surveys the men around the table, she ignores the blonde woman who’s sitting there smiling at her. But when the reporter pins the blame on one of the men, everyone crowds around, missing the sight of the woman pulling the knife from the dead body and leaving.
This dramatic scene highlights the uncommon nature of a woman being held responsible for violence. It also reminds the reader of the secrecy at the heart of Machado’s abusive relationship. By keeping the woman’s violence a secret, Machado allows her to get away with immense cruelty.
Themes
