My husband is not a kind man and with him, I am not a good person. Sometimes I wake up in the middle of the night and he, Caleb, is kneeling over me, his fingers tracing my neck. I place my hands over his, the rough skin, the swollen knuckles. I squeeze.
In "Difficult Women," Roxane Gay presents a complex and tense relationship between the narrator and her husband, Caleb. The narrator reflects on her husband's lack of kindness, suggesting that his behavior has a detrimental effect on her own morality. This dynamic highlights the struggle between love and personal integrity, indicating that her husband's actions compel her to act in ways that contradict her true self.
There are moments that evoke vulnerability, such as when Caleb kneels beside her at night, touching her neck. This image conveys a mix of intimacy and discomfort, as the narrator grapples with both the physical connection and the emotional turmoil it represents. The contrast between the tenderness of his touch and the harshness of his character emphasizes the complicated nature of their bond.
