When looking at the cover of the book you see two windows, two doors, and one balcony. I think of Valeria and Genovesa. The two shut doors represent the internalized oppression of both women and how they have to have a relationship behind closed doors but with a window of hope and opportunity for them to continue with their relationship regardless of the obstacles of their lives and roles as women. And with a balcony that connects them and is symbolic of their love and their relationship. I can see how both Genovesa and Valeria have been playing the roles that society embeds in women. Valeria has two sons who own her basically and whom she fears which demonstrates the patriarchal world we live in. If she was owner of herself then she would not let her sons walk in and out of her house and be rude to her friends. Also, before Valeria met Genovesa she was considering marrying Alejandro although she doesn't love the guy! Plus he is super rude and I can already tell he's this machista or this man that thinks he owns her when they're not even married yet!
Genovesa just got divorced from Raul. However, you can see the male ownership or patriarchy in her life because he is still hanging out with her! Why would she hang out with him if she already divorced him?! And why would she live with Raul and have her lover Roberta in the same place while going through her divorce? (She hasn't specifically said that Roberta is her lover but I think she is because she dodges the question when Valeria asks her).
Throughout all these chapters I have just been thinking about the many women that are oppressed and the many women that maybe haven't come out of the closet yet and are stuck with husbands who don't make them happy...with people they are not in love with.
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ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing Belem!
ReplyDeleteI had not paid much attention to the cover! Thank you for the interpretation! After reading the first couple of chapters, the cover reminds of the many, many (many, many…) times that they have sex in either Valeria’s house or at Genovesa’s studio. To me it’s more representative of the fact that when they show their love for each other it’s usually behind closed doors, where they feel safe, they are afraid of the outside world as two Jewish-lesbians in love.
On another note, I hate Alejandro’s guts! Regarding Roberta, I also think that she was her ex-lover! I hope that in the upcoming chapters Genovesa finally admits that she had something with Roberta and we get the opportunity to learn about her love experiences with other women.