Three Women

Sloane

Sloane’s resentment is borne out of the fact that her family have always viewed her as a wild party girl rather than recognizing that she might have been struggling. She feels that her family presents a facade of familial connection, instead of genuine love and care. The absence of any concern for her safety when she was involved in the car crash exemplifies this for Sloane; Gabe was merely angry that his car was totaled, rather than being relieved that she was alive. Furthermore, the crash is then laughed over among Gabe’s family.

Gabe’s teenage request of wanting to “fool around” with Sloane shows how Sloane has been sexualized and fetishized by men her whole life even her own brother (252). Just as Richard makes demands which make Sloane feel uncomfortable, her brother made a request based on his own desire. In both cases, Sloane’s own agency, preferences, and desires are minimized.

Taddeo also explores the way that women are held accountable for the sexual transgressions between men and women. The affair with Wes was initiated by Richard (who ends up being blameless in the eyes of the community). Wes was also an active participant. However, it is Sloane who is berated by Jenny. Jenny’s assertion “you’re the woman, you’re supposed to have the power” does not ring true for Sloane (285). Instead, Sloane feels powerless in her own marriage. Sloane also reflects on the ways her mother and herself were damaged by trauma and the absence of love and care. Taddeo suggests, contrary to Jenny’s assertion, that Sloane does not have the power in her marriage or sexual relationships, amongst her family, or in her community where she is denounced and slandered.

Maggie

Taddeo believes that the community and jurors were ready to disbelieve Maggie, because “the world sees Aaron Knodel as people are primed to see him” (259). Taddeo suggests that it was inevitable that Maggie would not be believed, given her gender, her age, and her class.

She suggests that Maggie presented Knodel with “another chance at youth” and that Knodel, with his “biggish ego,” would have loved being thought of as “a vampire lover” (259). Maggie was a form of escapism for Knodel, to a world where he was glorified and idealized, rather than one where he worried about his mortgage, his marriage, and his kids.

Taddeo invites the reader to feel resentful of Knodel’s comparative professional and personal success. Taddeo sets up a contrast to exemplify the different directions Maggie’s life has taken compared to Knodel’s after the trial. The moment where Knodel is celebrated on a float in a parade is juxtaposed with Maggie’s shift working at a restaurant she hates where she is treated with disrespect. Maggie languishes and is deeply lonely and traumatized. In detailing their lives after the trial, Taddeo highlights the damage which the illicit affair caused in Maggie’s life.

Maggie is branded as a “freaky slut” by men who find out her name (291). Meanwhile, girls driving past her protest yell at her, “You’re the ugliest bitch I’ve ever seen that’s why you’re crying rape!” (288). Taddeo draws attention to the impossible situation Maggie finds herself in. Those who believe that Knodel and Maggie had an affair condemn and shame Maggie for it. Those who believe that Maggie is lying suggest that she is not desirable enough to have been singled out by Knodel. Women are expected to be desirable but not sexual. They should be attractive to men but should know to guard against their advances. Taddeo draws attention to these damaging and confusing societal standards.

Lina

Once Aidan has received the “new hot pic” which satisfies his requirements, he ignores Lina’s repeated pleas to switch to Facebook chat so they can finish their conversation (263). Once again, Lina and Aidan’s power dynamic is foregrounded in this exchange; Aidan is demanding of Lina when convenient to him and neglects her when he no longer needs her. Lina stays in the hotel room in case Aidan decides that he wants to meet up with her but is at the mercy of his whims. The reader has an insight of Lina’s desperation, longing, and immense frustration with this arrangement in the fact that she cannot sleep.

Lina’s infatuation with Aidan is foregrounded through her desperation to meet him the next day, even when the terms are dictated entirely by him. When Lina has sex with Aidan in her car, “she feels that every single need of hers is met” (270). The reader again is invited to understand why Lina continues to subjugate herself to Aidan’s treatment; their sexual relationship is depicted as transcendently fulfilling for Lina. Sex with Aidan makes Lina feel wholly sated. Unfortunately,, it is invariably tinged with stress for Lina. She understands his comparative lack of commitment or investment and dreads his leaving every time. She has trouble reaching orgasm when they have sex in her car in the clearing, because of her awareness that “every time could be the last time she will ever feel this way” (271). When Aidan takes his hands off her legs, Lina “feels the world has just ended” (272).

Epilogue

Taddeo’s observations about the ways that Sloane and Lina are received in their communities highlight how women are expected to be grateful for their roles as caretakers, mothers, and wives; they are not supposed to be lustful, desirous, or ambitious about their own happiness. Taddeo implies that women are implicit in the suppression of other women and are active participants in the patriarchal structures which portray female desire as impudent and digressive. Her mother’s dying advice “don’t let them see you happy” alludes again to the way that women are complicit in the suppression of other women by creating a cultural norm whereby women should be satisfied with the little that they have (297).

Arlene’s discovery after the court case was already concluded that she had a right to request teacher files alludes to the way that judicial proceedings will always disadvantage those without money, knowledge of the system, and connections. Arlene was trying to navigate an unfamiliar system in the wake of her husband’s tragic death. Meanwhile, Marie Knodel was familiar with the system, and delivered a damning testimony only once she had heard Maggie’s version of events. Maggie’s family’s class and lack of knowledge are contrasted against the Knodels’ money, status, and knowledge. Taddeo positions the reader to feel grief and frustration on Arlene’s behalf when she makes this discovery, as she thinks desperately: “Look at the way our family has been misused, ignored. Look at all they held back!” (299). Taddeo suggests that legal systems, in ways that are both subtle and overt, continue to favor those who are already socially advantaged.