Author Yiyun Li joins Samantha Hunt to discuss 'A Sheltered Woman' and its exploration of motherhood, life and relationships, emotional detachment, identification and connection, the absence of men, disdain for storytelling, and themes of duty, love, and care in marriage and mothering.
The story explores the intersection of capitalism and motherhood, questioning the effects of capitalism on the responsibilities of motherhood.
Chanel's ambivalence towards motherhood and her own past reveal complex attitudes about care and maternal instincts.
The narrative suggests that emotional detachment may not be sustainable in the long run, highlighting the tension between Auntie May's detachment and her longing for connection.
Deep dives
Auntie May's emotional detachment in caring for babies
Auntie May, a living nanny for newborns, maintains emotional detachment in her caregiving role. Despite being immersed in the vulnerable and emotional world of new mothers and infants, she refrains from forming attachments. She believes in strictly following routines and fulfilling her duties, rather than engaging emotionally with the families she works for.
The themes of capitalism and the effects on motherhood
The story explores the intersection of capitalism and motherhood. Auntie May becomes a gold medal nanny, providing exceptional care to babies of successful professionals who hire her for her expertise. The story questions the effects of capitalism on motherhood and presents the struggle between the demands of work and the responsibilities of motherhood.
Chanel's struggle with postpartum depression and motherhood
Chanel, a new mother, claims to suffer from postpartum depression. However, Auntie May suspects it is an excuse for Chanel's disinterest and lack of attachment to her baby. Chanel's ambivalence towards motherhood and her own past reveal complex attitudes about care and maternal instincts.
Auntie May's own journey and reflections
Auntie May reflects on her own life, including the death of her husband and her decision to live an ordinary life. She questions the concept of love and embodies emotional detachment to protect herself. As she contemplates running away with the baby she cares for, she ultimately rejects the idea, aiming to leave no mystery or damage behind in others' lives.
The contrast between emotional detachment and the desire for connection
The story highlights the tension between Auntie May's emotional detachment and her longing for connection. As she interacts with Chanel, Paul, and the baby, she grapples with conflicting emotions. While she aims to remain unaffected by personal relationships, the narrative suggests that genuine connections are essential and that emotional detachment may not be sustainable in the long run.
Samantha Hunt joins Deborah Treisman to read and discuss “A Sheltered Woman,” by Yiyun Li, which appeared in a 2014 issue of the magazine. Hunt’s four books of fiction include the story collection “The Dark Dark,” which was published in 2017, and “The Seas,” for which she won the National Book Foundations’s 5 Under 35 Award in 2006.