The Husbands

Early in the novel, it becomes clear to Lauren that the attic is the portal through which the husbands appear and disappear, though the exact means by which this happens remains mysterious. As Lauren explores the attic from a distance, she discovers that electrical elements behave there. She cannot explain the reason for this and—in keeping with the conventions of magical realism—accepts this function as a given, not further questioning it.

Because the flat is owned by Lauren’s sister, she has an emotional connection to it that she would not otherwise have were she merely renting the flat from a stranger. She comes to believe that each of the husbands is specially chosen for her. As she discovers that a husband can never return from the attic—if he ascends, he is always replaced by a different man—Lauren understands that the “rules” of the attic are consistent and reliable. She never attempts to explain the phenomenon to any of the husbands and instead takes advantage of the ability to reject husbands without any emotional fallout simply by requesting that they enter the attic. This gives Lauren a sense of power and control over her destiny, as well as the belief that she can situate herself in such a way as to achieve the ideal marriage.