Group: “Mothers”

March 4 

Group members: Ashley, Salma, Kristofer, Genaro

Ashley questions:

1. Was there a moment in this story that you liked or disliked? Why?
2. Have you been in a situation where someone had the power over you in a way it affected your emotions? Can you connect it to this story?
3. What does the ending mean? Is she going to be free?
4. The title is mothers, why do you think the author made it plural and not as mother?
5. Do you think the baby is real? If not, what is it?
6.  Do you think Bad loved the narrator as much as the narrator?
7. Does this story mess up the idea of what a mother should be?
8. Why do you think “Bad” is called Bad? 
9. What is the message of this story?
10. Why does the narrator stay with bad even though she gets treated badly?

Salma’s Questions:

– How did you feel about the story? Did you like it? Hate it?

– What part of the story stood out most to you?

– What kind of feelings did you have while reading this story?

– What significance did the house have in the story?

– Is the narrator reliable? Why or why not?

– How do you feel about the age difference implied between Bad and the narrator?

– “Thank god we cannot make a baby” is something the narrator repeats throughout the story. What do you think this meant to the narrator? Why did the author choose to add this?

– How does the way the story is written impact the meaning of the story itself?

– In what ways does the story represent struggles of motherhood? Sexuality? Trauma?

– Do you think the narrator loved the baby? Did she want the baby?

Kristofer’s Questions:

1. What is her response to the baby that the narrator is watching out for, given that she intends to become a mother?  Is the narrator prepared to become a mother, in your opinion?pg 45-47 

2. On pages 48 and 49, how does the author use the act of smoking weed to shed light on the characters’ relationships and their personal struggles? What language and imagery does the author use to express these dynamics?

3. On pg. 51,  looking at the starting line “Back in Bad Bed, and so on,” what was your reaction to the narrator having a sexual fantasy with this woman she met?  Do you think there is any other information left out after reading the paragraph and lines, or was it too much?

4. How does the narrative in the “Mothers” chapter connect to the broad themes of motherhood in “Her Body and Other Parties” by Carmen Maria Machado that haven’t been discussed yet?

5. How do you describe the relationship between the narrator and Bad? Has it changed throughout the story? 

6. How does the narrator’s relationship with Bad influence her perception of motherhood? Do you agree with this? Why or why not? 

7. In this story, how does Machado portray queer relationships? How does it relate to identity, love, and pain represented in this story?

8. Do you think the baby has changed the narrator’s perception? Why or why not? 

9. Are there mothers in the class? If so, how does this story relate to first-time mothers? Do you think this story is relatable to being a mom?

10. How would you describe the relationship between the narrator and her daughter? 

Genaro’s Question:

1. What was your reaction when the couple still had a child when the narrator insisted neither could?
2. Do you as the reader consider the couple to be ‘Bad’ mothers?
3. What is the irony behind the character ‘Bad’? She is characterized as ‘masculine’ and ‘confident’ but carried the child to term and left both Mara and the Narrator? 
4. What are your thoughts behind Mara’s growth?
5. Why do you think the Narrator still holds feelings for Bad even after Bad left her with Mara?
6. What are your thoughts when Tristan is revealed to be the narrator’s child after Mara?