Machismo

Machismo is the exaggerated sense of masculine power and potency often associated with Latin countries. It is the major theme in The Garden of Eden. From the start, the unidentified couple is called a "young man" and a "girl," emphasizing the male's mastery and the female's compliance. The inequality continues, with David being named on page 7, but Catherine not identified by name until page 37. The couple's equilibrium is disturbed long before any sexual exploits because they must live on Catherine's money, damaging David's male ego. David is justifiably proud of his success as a writer, but at its root, the writing is disturbing because such a sensitive pursuit is somehow unmanly.

David is deeply disturbed by Catherine's sexual role-playing because it threatens his own sense of control. Whenever Catherine acts on her own desires and dreams, David sees the actions as irrational and insane. David's need to write...