Gender and Sexual Double Standards

Iris Storm is judged harshly for her sexual history and labeled a 'shameless, shameful lady,' while male characters like Gerald are afforded more complexity; the book critiques the unequal moral expectations placed on women.

Iris's story of the emerald ring reveals Hector's suspicion and the double standard of trust in marriage.

Hilary condemns Iris as 'loose' for her affairs, while Boy's suicide is romanticized; the narrator challenges the unequal judgment of men and women.

Iris is observed furtively by men who look at her 'like cows at a bull' because of her reputation, highlighting societal judgment of women with lovers.

Iris's letter reveals her husband's abandonment during pregnancy and her own powerlessness; Cherry's comments about women and surgery hint at societal attitudes toward female bodies.