Our Kind: A Novel in Stories | Themes

Our Kind: A Novel in Stories Themes

Male Dominance of Vulnerable Women

He typifies, and is a caricature and stereotype of, male dominance. The novel begins with the group of friends planning to intervene in His lifestyle. He represents all men and is perceived in their fathers, husbands, boyfriends, sons and other male characters. The novel opens with the female friends and Canoe in the lead planning to take the upper hand by intervention, but only for the best of reasons, so he does not kill himself. They do not want his blood on their hands.

The struggle is evidenced by just missing Him at the end of the intervention attempt. Louise is discovered naked and vulnerable again having been preyed on by Him in His attempt to "console" her. The irony of this situation occurs later when He attempts to escape from the Center and dies by breaking His neck in a fall from the flowered rope. Louise is saddened by...
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