Women Talking

How does Women Talking resonate in the 21st-century social and political atmosphere of the Me Too movement?

The women in the novel have been denied education and autonomy in ways that are seldom seen in developed countries of the 21st century. Describe specific ways these deficiencies limit the women.

How does the novel portray love of various kinds? How does love complicate the women’s situation?

Is August a reliable narrator? If so, what makes him credible? If not, how do his personal biases and experiences color the way he depicts the women and their world?

Compare the 2022 film adaptation with the novel. What are each of the genres’ strengths and weaknesses for conveying the story’s themes? What devices does each use that are unique to its particular genre?

Sexual and domestic violence are the foundation of the book. Discuss how the women’s faith affects their response to the violence they suffer at the hands of the men. How does their religion enable or protect them from the violence?

August’s narration features many references to science, literature, art, etc. How do these allusions contribute to the overall meaning of the novel?

Bishop Peters, Klaas, Aaron, and August’s father (the man who raised him) are minor characters. Discuss these male characters’ effects on the women and how they add depth to the story, symbolically or otherwise.