In the Dream House Character Analysis

Carmen Maria Machado

Machado is the protagonist and author of In the Dream House. A student of creative writing, she uses her knowledge of literary craft to investigate her traumatic experience from many different angles and in… read analysis of Carmen Maria Machado

The Woman from the Dream House

The woman from the Dream House is Machado’s abusive romantic partner. Machado is immediately attracted to her from their first meeting, but their relationship has a foundation of inequality. Machado admires her because she… read analysis of The Woman from the Dream House

Val/Carmen Maria Machado’s Wife

Val is the girlfriend of the woman from the Dream House when Machado first meets her. Though the woman tells Machado she’s in an open relationship and suggests they create a polyamorous relationship between the… read analysis of Val/Carmen Maria Machado’s Wife

Joel

Joel is the pastor who joins Machado’s church when she’s 16 years old. He and Machado become close friends despite their large age gap, and after they meet several times in his church office… read analysis of Joel

Carmen Maria Machado’s Mother

Machado’s mother often reminds Machado during her childhood that her personal space doesn’t actually belong to her—it’s something her parents grant her. Machado partly attributes her lack of self-advocacy in relationships to this attitude. Machado’s… read analysis of Carmen Maria Machado’s Mother

Carmen Maria Machado’s Father

Machado’s father infuriates Machado during childhood by suggesting that women are generally emotionally sensitive people. This is a stereotype she considers false, though the woman from the Dream House seems to prove it, which infuriates… read analysis of Carmen Maria Machado’s Father

Debra Reid

Debra Reid is one of the Framingham Eight, a group of women imprisoned for killing their abusive partners in the 1980s. Debra is the only one of the eight whose partner was also a woman… read analysis of Debra Reid

John

John is Laura’s partner and one of Machado’s roommates in Iowa. His presence, along with Laura’s, makes Machado feel safe and secure—a stark contrast to how the woman from the Dream House makes… read analysis of John

Laura

Laura is John’s partner and one of Machado’s roommates when she lives in Iowa as a student. She’s one of the few people to whom Machado talks about her abusive relationship while she’s… read analysis of Laura

In the Dream House Characters