The Triplets

The names of the three triplets that Michelle Mabelle and J.B. have—Liberté, Egalité, Fraternité—symbolize the distortion of Enlightenment values. The fact that the ideals of the French revolution have become the names of triplets, born to a corporate executive and “bird professor,” suggests a connection between western ideals and capitalism, which has over the years become distorted and banal.

J.B.'s Third Arm

J.B.’s third arm represents the heterogeneity of the human species. Although J.B.’s third arm attracts attention, the novel suggests that this difference is of only minor significance. J.B. is never mocked for his arm.

Michelle Mabelle’s Three Breasts

Michelle Mabelle’s three breasts also represent the heterogeneity of the human species. Her three breasts also emphasize her maternal role, as well as signaling to the reader that J.B. and Michelle Mabelle...