Why did Machado use a green ribbon specifically as a narrative device and what did it represent?

When reading the first mention of the green ribbon, I immediately thought about the short story “The Green Ribbon” in the book “In a Dark, Dark Room and Other Scary Stories” by Alvin Schwartz that many people are familiar with. Machado’s story follows a similar outline to that one, but adds much more detail. After a few quick google searches, this story seems to be folklore that originates from very long ago. I think in referencing this story, Machado is allowed to play with and elaborate on the story that many are familiar with, but still surprise them in the end. It reminded me of our in-class discussion about the importance of genres and how knowing the key indicators of a genre allows for more experimentation and understanding, both as a reader and writer. The original green ribbon story ends with the woman’s head falling off, but in Machado’s story, the end is more emotional because of her interesting incorporation of this woman’s life and other anecdotes.

Aside from the use of the green ribbon itself, I think it represented something that the protagonist truly felt was hers and hers alone. In the beginning of the story we’re presented with a young girl, who even in her meeting and initial interactions with this boy, showed autonomy when she says “I have heard all of the stories about girls like me, and I am unafraid to make more of them” and states two rules “he cannot finish inside of me, and he cannot touch my green ribbon”. The green ribbon for her represents a boundary and something that makes her feel in control of her surroundings and situations, but this is later challenged as it seems her life is shaped by her husband’s desires. Machado’s characterization of the husband doesn’t feel hyper-specific which puts more focus on his actions towards the protagonist and making him become more of a representative figure of oppression in general. The protagonist doesn’t outwardly see him as evil, but the slow persistence of wanting to know about her ribbon, laughing at her, and being so controlling over their intimacy presents him as emotionally detached. These tests don’t reveal love or curiosity, but rather the entitlement he feels to her entire being, only seeing her as an extension of him. 

Towards the end, we see her guilt in having kept this a secret from her husband as she realizes he isn’t a “bad man” and gives him the chance to untie the ribbon, which he takes despite this being something she was very protective of for so long. Her character arc is deeply unsettling in that we see her sense of self slowly deteriorate over a lifetime, where she softens her boundaries in hopes of her husband finally understanding her. Its representative of roles women sometimes feel pressured to take in being tolerant, giving, and understanding without it ever being given back. As a result, women burn out since nothing they ever do seems enough. I found it interesting that another character’s ribbon was brought up, this time red. It helped present the “secret” as something universal, where all women carry burdens they don’t speak about.

Media:

Nights of Cabiria (1957): Magician Scene

I could only find the clip in Italian, but the 1957 film is about a hopeful sex worker, searching for love in a world that decieves and exploits her. In this specific scene, a magician hypnotizes her, making her act out a fanatasy of being in love while the audience of men laughs at her. Like the protagonist in The Husband Stitch, Cabiria believes she has control over life only to realize that society uses them as entertainment, not acknowledging their struggles as individuals. Even as they grow older, both stories show characters being stuck in loops where they’re presented with the question if those around them truly care for them.