Content Warning: This guide section contains depictions of domestic abuse, violence against women, and sexual assault.

“She doesn’t complain about anything I do; she is physically unable to. That’s because I fixed her early. I told her in heartfelt tones that one of the reasons I love her is because she never complains. So now of course she doesn’t dare complain.”

This excerpt reveals Mr. Fox’s manipulative tendencies by showing how he deliberately suppresses his wife’s voice. By framing his preference for her lack of complaints as a reason for his love, Mr. Fox ensures that Daphne feels pressured to conform to this expectation, effectively silencing her. The phrase “I fixed her early” highlights a calculated effort to control her behavior, dehumanizing Daphne and positioning her as an object to be shaped rather than as an equal partner. This manipulation underscores his desire for dominance.

“The Doc’s wife had been a good woman, so her body remained intact and she did not give off a smell of decay.”

The idea that being a “good woman” prevents decay reflects societal expectations placed on women to be virtuous, obedient, and pure, often associating their value with compliance. It underscores how women are often judged and controlled based on their perceived goodness, reinforcing the power dynamics and moral standards male characters like Dr. Lustucru impose.

“I looked at the walls as I ate my toast—everything was butter and marmalade. The blondest wood that Mitzi had been able to find, yellow countertops, yellow tablecloth, linoleum of the same colour but in such a shocking hue that I can never quite believe in it and constantly find myself walking or sitting with only my toes on the ground, never my full weight.”

The description of Mr. Cole’s house uses sensory language. The repetition of yellows evokes a sense of brightness and artificiality. The excessive use of yellow creates a discomfort for Mary, reflected in her reaction to it. The detail of “such a shocking hue” conveys that the intensity of the color is too much for her.