What obstacles do the central characters run into as they try to apply theory in their lives? How does theory—whether Madeleine’s post-structuralist theory or Mitchell’s theology—interact with practice in the novel? What does this reveal about the uses and limitations of theory?

What does the novel suggest about gender roles in modern-day relationships? How do patriarchal gender norms reproduce themselves even in relationships in which both participants seek to reject these norms?

What role does Madeleine’s sister, Alwyn, play in the development of the novel’s themes? In what ways does Madeleine compare herself to Alwyn, and what does she take from these comparisons?