"Spanking the Maid," initially featured in The Iowa Review in 1979 as a lengthy short story, found its place in the literary spotlight by being selected for both Best American Short Stories of 1981 and Best American Short Stories of the 1980s under the name “A Working Day.” This narrative underwent minimal adjustments before being reissued as a novella, first accompanied by illustrations in 1981, and subsequently without them in 1982. Robert Coover's work offers an intriguing examination of routine, power dynamics, and the nature of repetition.

Setting and Main Characters

"Spanking the Maid" unfolds within the confines of a singular setting: the master’s bedroom, where the maid, referred to as "she," arrives to perform her cleaning duties for her employer, "he." These two characters are the sole participants in this intimate and repetitive drama. The narrative is constructed through thirty-nine fragmented scenes resembling the structure of a stage play or a film, each moment offering a glimpse into the everyday reality of their interactions.

Fragmented Narrative Structure

The story kicks off with the maid entering the bedroom, only to immediately re-enter, akin to an actor perfecting a scene. The bed, often empty, indicates the master’s absence at various points. As the narrative progresses, the perspective shifts between the maid and the master, alternately exploring their viewpoints. Despite the repetitive nature of their tasks, each segment introduces slight variations, adding depth and complexity to their routine interactions.

The Pursuit of Perfection

The maid is on a relentless quest for perfection in her duties, an objective she never quite achieves. Her failure, however, necessitates punishment. The master administers this discipline using various implements—belts, rods, hands, whips, switches, leather straps, and hairbrushes—following guidelines from "the manuals." These manuals, inspired by Victorian-era domestic servant guides, are stretched to extreme levels in Coover's narrative, highlighting the absurdity and monotony of the maid’s predicament.

Repetition and Its Implications

The cycle of cleaning and punishment persists unabated, driven purely by the confines of the text. There is no definitive conclusion, no resolution to their endless routine. The characters are trapped in a cyclical loop, relentlessly playing out their designated roles. This continuous cycle blurs the line between fantasy and reality, enveloping the reader in a paradox that prevents clear differentiation between the two.