Should you attempt to free those who don’t think they are caged? In this work of philosophical short fiction, the Second Mrs. Roberts, meticulously trained to be a perfect wife in a society where women are “Returned” if they fail their domestic duties, strives to fulfill her role with unwavering dedication. Her seeming contentment is shattered when she discovers a cryptic note left by her predecessor, hinting at a hidden “Underground” and urging escape from their seemingly ideal, yet restrictive, existence. As she grapples with the conflicting loyalties between her husband and the unsettling truth, the story explores themes of societal control, gender roles, the illusion of happiness, and the yearning for freedom in a world where women are reduced to “Wives” for the sole benefit of men.
Veronica Zora Kirin (Wed,) studied this question.