Sexuality is one of the main themes of Dubus’ writing. In If They Knew Yvonne, Harry struggles to find meaning in his sexual relationships due to his beliefs in the Church. In Miranda Over The Valley, Miranda also struggles to find meaning in her sexual relationships after seeing the ultimate meaning of sex and love, a child, being taken out of her by her parent’s wishes. In Killings, Dubus shows us Frank, who truly loves Mary Ann and finds meaning in there sexual relationship. In Killings, Dubus also shows us Irony, with the first character who actually loved his lover getting killed by the husband. In these three stories Dubus shows the meaninglessness of sex without a deeper love between the lovers.
Dubus shows the meaninglessness of sex without a deeper love in If They Knew Yvonne. Harry’s education taught him to fear sex as an evil thing. He never thought of sex associated with love. He thought of sex associated with guilt and sin. So it’s no wonder that he did not love the person he was having sex with. Also, it is not surprising that he was soon repulsed by Yvonne, who, being his lover, he associated with guilt and sin. In the end, as illustrated by the crab scene, Harry realizes that human sexuality is not evil and sinful, and if we think of it like that, no love can come from an intimate relationship.
Dubus shows the meaninglessness of sex without a deeper love in Killings. He does this by showing just how meaningful sex is when there is a love present. Though Frank had an affair with Strout’s wife, this is not what infuriated Strout the most. With a gun to his head, Richard does not say “he was sleeping with my wife”, he says “he was always with her”. Strout was most infuriated at the fact the Frank and Mary Anne loved each other.
After reading If They Knew Yvonne and Miranda over the Valley, Richards action of killing Frank in cold blood seems like Dubus’ telling us “sex is not so meaningless when there is love in people’s hearts”. There was no love when Brian cheated on Carrie with Miranda, and therefore no consequences. This time, both Frank and Richard were madly in love with Mary Ann, which made sex not so meaningless, with consequences.
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I like what you are trying to get at here Steven. I think this especially applies in "Yvonne" and "Miranda." Sex, if sacramental, can be beautiful. But Dubus also sees its potential for violence--violence against others, self, and God. I think this is a theme to weigh as we continue to discuss Dubus (beyond your groups reading of him).
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