In this week’s episode of the LitFiction podcast, Joey, Colin, and Jennifer discuss “Atilla” by Nell Frutenberger, featured in the August 5, 2024, issue of The New Yorker. The story follows Martha, a middle-aged professor, as she cares for her mother, Judy, who is suffering from Alzheimer’s. The narrative dives into complicated family dynamics, unresolved trauma, and the burden of caregiving, as Martha navigates her relationship with her mother, her sister Molly, and their shared family history.

Our Thoughts

Joey begins by admitting that while he found certain themes compelling, he didn’t feel the story was particularly impactful. He notes the disorienting structure, with its abrupt scene shifts, but acknowledges that this might be intentional, mirroring Judy’s memory loss and the fragmentation of past and present.

“I found the shifts in the story a little disorienting, but I think they mirrored Judy’s memory loss well. The scrambling of past and future really came through.”
— Joey

Colin shares his interpretation of the story’s key events, particularly the ambiguity surrounding Judy’s past actions with Molly’s teenage boyfriend. He initially misread the situation, thinking Molly had gotten pregnant, but ultimately agreed that the encounter left significant emotional scars that broke up the family.

“The incident that broke up the family was Molly’s boyfriend on the couch with Judy. It wasn’t about pregnancy—there was no indication of that—but it was clearly a betrayal.”
— Colin

Jennifer adds to the discussion by exploring the theme of privacy, noting that Judy’s scandal was contained within their community, sparing them from the viral consequences of today’s social media era. She connects this to the broader exploration of public versus private lives, a recurring theme throughout the story.

“I found the exploration of privacy in the social media age really fascinating. The scandal didn’t go viral like it would today, but there’s still a lot of secrecy within the family.”
— Jennifer

Key Themes Discussed

• Family Dynamics and Resentment: The story delves into the complicated relationships between Martha, Judy, and Molly. Judy’s betrayal with Molly’s boyfriend left emotional scars that fractured the family, and Martha still harbors resentment toward her mother.
• Caregiving and Aging: Martha’s role as Judy’s caregiver highlights the emotional toll of caring for an aging parent. The story captures the frustration, guilt, and exhaustion that come with such responsibilities, particularly when unresolved tensions linger.
• Privacy and Public Shame: The story juxtaposes the notion of privacy in a pre-social media world with today’s viral culture. Judy’s actions remain relatively private, confined to her community, but the emotional damage is still profound within the family.
• Generational Trauma and Silence: The family’s refusal to discuss Judy’s betrayal reflects a culture of silence, where issues are left unresolved. This avoidance of confrontation has long-lasting effects on Martha and Molly’s lives.
• Moral Ambiguity: There is ambiguity around Judy’s role as both a victim of Alzheimer’s and a perpetrator of past betrayals. Colin and Joey debate whether Judy’s deteriorating mental state absolves her of responsibility for her actions, or whether her Machiavellian tendencies continue to affect her family relationships.

Conclusion

The group concludes that “Atilla” is a compelling exploration of family, memory, and caregiving, albeit with some ambiguity that leaves room for interpretation. The story’s portrayal of aging and unresolved trauma resonates deeply, but the moral ambiguity surrounding Judy’s character raises more questions than it answers. Nell Frutenberger’s story is a nuanced look at how past actions reverberate through the present, shaping family dynamics and personal identities.