Liars: A Novel

Liars is a critique of societal structures that often marginalize women’s ambitions and individuality within the contexts of marriage and motherhood. Through the lens of feminist ideology, the novel examines the ways in which cultural expectations and gender roles can trap women in cycles of sacrifice, invisibility, and dependency, while also exploring their resilience and capacity for self-redefinition. The narrative highlights the systemic pressures that push women to subordinate their desires to their familial roles—a phenomenon that sociologists and theorists refer to as invisible labor. The term invisible labor was first coined by the sociologist Arlene Kaplan Daniels in the late 1980s. It describes the many forms of work that go unseen and unappreciated in the context of modern, industrial capitalism—forms of work that fall disproportionately on women, people of color, and other minoritized individuals. 

 Jane, the protagonist, bears the burden of invisible labor as she juggles her identity as a writer, a wife, and a mother. Her sacrifices, both personal and professional, reflect the pervasive belief that women should prioritize their families at the expense of their own goals. For example, Jane’s creative aspirations are often dismissed or undermined by her husband, John, whose entitlement and self-centeredness leave Jane to shoulder the majority of domestic and emotional labor. These dynamics critique the imbalance of power in traditional heterosexual marriages, where men’s ambitions are often celebrated while women’s contributions are overlooked.

Manguso’s feminist perspective also challenges the cultural double standards that define women’s worth through their relationships. The novel explores how Jane’s identity is shaped and constrained by the societal expectation to be a “good wife” and “selfless mother,” even as she grapples with emotional abuse and betrayal. This struggle to define her identity on her own terms reflects foundational ideas from second-wave feminism, as articulated in Betty Friedan’s The Feminine Mystique. In this influential 1963 book, Friedan argues that women in post-World War II America had come to be defined solely in relation to the roles of wife and mother, limiting their opportunities for personal development and fulfillment. Despite living two generations after Friedan, equipped with a feminist vocabulary that women in Friedan’s era did not have, Jane finds herself facing the same crisis of identity. Jane’s eventual separation from John and her journey of self-discovery offer a counter-narrative to these limiting norms, emphasizing the importance of autonomy and self-actualization.

Through its critique of marriage and motherhood, Liars engages with broader feminist themes, urging readers to question the societal norms that perpetuate inequality. By blending intimate storytelling with cultural analysis, Manguso highlights the resilience of women who navigate these challenges, contributing to a new generation of feminist literature.