Summary

In Chapter 4, Samsa and the baby, Tinna, are constantly attached. Their attachment and “Samsa’s motherhood” excludes Boulder (67). Tinna is almost constantly attached to Samsa’s nipple. She gets upset as soon as it falls from her mouth. Although Tinna cries often and Samsa’s body has been ravaged, Samsa is unbothered by everything. Meanwhile, Boulder runs the house. She feels “used,” “isolated,” and “spent” (68). She tries not to think about it.

The family moves into the yellow house when Tinna is two months old. Ragna helps. Boulder feels embarrassed by Tinna’s accouterments. Meanwhile, Samsa and Tinna are at the pool. The way Samsa relates to Tinna unnerves Boulder. Samsa changed the “moment she was inseminated” (69). Motherhood now defines her.

Boulder feels more trapped than ever. She finishes her maternity leave and returns to work, hoping Samsa will soon remember who she...