Infidelity

The motif of infidelity appears in several stories throughout the collection, and the narratives use this motif as a means of illustrating and exploring human follies as symptomatic of desire and discontentment. For example, the concept of infidelity plays a heavy role in the story “Two-Step,” which sets the baselines of infidelity as an inherently immoral act. Naomi seems to have justified her affair with Alice’s husband because she thinks that this extramarital affair has a basis in true, reciprocal love. However, as Alice states, “The whole soul mates idea is really most useful when you’re stealing someone’s husband. It’s not so good when someone might be stealing yours” (99). Moreover, Naomi ultimately sees the folly of her actions when she realizes that Alice’s husband is profoundly dishonest and is a serial philanderer who will never be faithful to just one woman...