All Fours
Chapter 22
by July;, MirandaThe chapter opens with a conversation between the narrator and Tim Yoon, who mentions his daughter’s recent wedding. The narrator reveals they no longer need help with license plates, having solved the mystery of a telephotographer and a real estate card. The discussion shifts to Brian, a former neighbor who connected them, and the shocking revelation that Brian has died from kidney failure—not in the line of duty as assumed. This news adds a layer of melancholy, especially as the narrator reflects on Brian selling his truck while terminally ill. The exchange underscores the unpredictability of life and the fragility of assumptions.
Later, the narrator shares the discoveries with Harris, who responds with detached sympathy. Their conversation briefly touches on the real estate card’s pricing and the eerie photo of the narrator taken by the telephotographer. Harris’s terse reaction and sudden departure create tension, leaving the narrator confused. The dynamic between them is strained, with Harris’s cryptic behavior hinting at unresolved issues. The narrator’s decision to stand half-naked in the living room, almost defiantly, adds to the charged atmosphere, culminating in Harris’s return and a shift toward an unsettling role-play scenario.
The interaction escalates as Harris assumes the persona of the telephotographer, showing the narrator photos he took of her through the window. The narrator, both aroused and uneasy, engages in the fantasy, though Harris’s anger simmers beneath the surface. The role-play blurs lines between reality and imagination, with the narrator struggling to maintain the illusion while confronting Harris’s palpable resentment. The scene is fraught with tension, as the narrator grapples with the dissonance between her desires and the underlying hostility in their relationship.
The chapter concludes with a raw and intense sexual encounter, where the narrator attempts to embody the “good-time girl” persona Harris seems to demand. The physical act becomes a battleground of emotions, mixing pleasure with pain and submission with defiance. The narrator’s internal monologue reveals her desperation to reconcile fantasy with reality, culminating in a moment of alchemical transformation—where body and mind merge into something new. The chapter ends on a note of unresolved tension, leaving the narrator and Harris’s relationship in a precarious and ambiguous state.
FAQs
1. How does the revelation about Brian’s death impact the narrator’s understanding of past events?
Answer:
The narrator initially believed Brian was an active FBI agent who was moving away when selling his truck, but learns from Tim Yoon that Brian had actually quit the FBI due to a kidney disease and was dying (page 246). This reframes Brian’s actions—the truck sale wasn’t for relocation but likely to manage end-of-life affairs. The narrator’s shock (“I gasped”) underscores how this revelation reshapes her perception of their interactions, adding a layer of tragedy to what she previously interpreted as mundane.2. Analyze the significance of role-playing in the narrator’s sexual encounter with Harris. How does it reflect their relationship dynamics?
Answer:
The role-play scenario—where Harris pretends to be the “telephotographer” and the narrator acts as a “good-time girl”—reveals their strained intimacy and unspoken tensions (pages 247–248). Harris’s anger (“still furious”) leaks into the performance, while the narrator struggles to reconcile fantasy with reality. The dynamic highlights their disconnect: she seeks emotional/sexual validation through imagined scenarios, while he engages mechanically. The phrase “He’ll never know the difference” ironically underscores their mutual dishonesty, as both avoid addressing their real marital issues.3. What symbolic role does the real estate card play in the chapter?
Answer:
The real estate card (priced at “one point eight” million) serves as a catalyst for confrontation and fantasy (pages 246–247). It physically represents intrusion (the photographer’s voyeurism) and becomes a prop for Harris’s role-play. The image of the narrator—captured without her knowledge—mirrors her vulnerability in the marriage. Later, Harris’s fixation on the photo (“Is that you?”) and his subsequent voyeuristic reenactment (“took out his phone and showed me the pictures”) suggest how their relationship is mediated through external gazes and performances rather than authentic connection.4. How does the chapter explore themes of performance and identity? Provide textual evidence.
Answer:
Performance permeates the chapter: Brian’s FBI uniform (worn despite quitting), Harris’s unconvincing role-play (“didn’t do a whole lot to get into character”), and the narrator’s forced enactment of a “good-time girl” (pages 247–248). The narrator’s internal monologue—”how could I think with him right there?“—reveals her dissociation, as she struggles to merge her fantasy self with reality. Even Harris’s terse dialogue (“Just wear something else”) feels scripted. These performances highlight characters hiding behind roles to avoid confronting truths (e.g., Brian’s illness, marital dissatisfaction).5. Evaluate the narrator’s emotional response to Harris’s behavior in the final scene. What does it suggest about her agency?
Answer:
The narrator’s conflicted reactions—arousal (“stupidly wet”) mixed with detachment (“tentatively ran my hands”)—show her compromised agency (page 248). She submits to Harris’s script (“Fuck me. Please…”) but notes the “acrid scent” of reality, suggesting dissonance. Her earlier defiance (“if this was a test then I would stand there for the rest of my life”) collapses into performative compliance, revealing how her autonomy is eroded by her desire for connection. The scene’s unresolved tension (“Everything was build[ing]”) mirrors her trapped state, neither fully empowered nor passive.
Quotes
1. “That’s why he was selling his truck. He wasn’t moving; he was dying.”
This poignant realization captures the chapter’s theme of hidden truths and the contrast between appearances and reality. It marks a turning point where the protagonist understands her former neighbor’s tragic situation.
2. “Each word said like a dollar he wished he was spending elsewhere.”
This vivid description perfectly encapsulates Harris’s emotional detachment and the strained dynamic between the characters. It highlights the protagonist’s frustration with her partner’s lack of engagement.
3. “This was almost an actual conversation. And there was a strange feeling in the air; I couldn’t put my finger on it.”
This quote represents a key moment of tension and anticipation in the chapter, where the protagonist senses a shift in the relationship dynamic that will lead to the subsequent intimate encounter.
4. “As with Audra there was a sort of salty-and-sweet combination of body and mind that made a brand-new thing, like alchemy. Or sex.”
This metaphorical description captures the chapter’s exploration of physical intimacy as a transformative experience. It represents the protagonist’s complex relationship with both fantasy and reality in her sexual experiences.
5. “I desperately tried to remember what I’d be doing if this were happening in my head.”
This introspective moment reveals the protagonist’s struggle to reconcile fantasy with reality during the sexual encounter, highlighting the chapter’s central theme of the blurred lines between imagination and actual experience.