A frequent theme is the breakdown of communication. When the husband and wife are not able to communicate effectively, it can lead to the wife feeling so frustrated that she takes extreme measures. Also, there could be a theme of gender roles. These stories might play with the traditional expectations of male and female roles, and the wife's action could be a subversion of the idea that the husband is always in control.
I'm not aware of many well - known classic fictional stories with this exact plot. However, in some modern horror or psychological thriller short stories that play on extreme relationship dynamics, there could potentially be something along these lines. But these are more in the realm of niche or underground literature, not widely read or accepted in general literary circles.
There are probably some out there. Maybe in the realm of dark comedies. The 'castrating' might be more about the power dynamics in a relationship gone awry. The wife's actions could be a response to years of the husband's misbehavior. But these stories would still need to handle such a serious topic in a way that doesn't promote real - life harm and instead offers some sort of social commentary.
No. Such a theme is extremely rare and disturbing in mainstream literature as it involves a very extreme and violent act that goes against basic human values.
One reason could be to explore extreme power dynamics in relationships. It shows a very extreme form of female empowerment in a fictional context, where the woman takes an ultimate form of revenge or control. Another reason might be for shock value. Writers sometimes use such extreme concepts to jolt the reader and make them think about the darker sides of human nature and relationships.
One possible motive could be extreme revenge. If the husband has been unfaithful in a very hurtful way or has committed some heinous act against the wife, she might be driven to such an extreme act out of sheer rage and a desire to cause him the ultimate harm.
In 1950s fiction, the idea of a husband spanking his wife was sometimes used to show traditional gender roles. It was a part of the patriarchal society depicted in some stories, where the husband was seen as the dominant figure in the family. However, this is a rather archaic and unacceptable concept in modern times.
In 1950s fiction, such a theme might have been used to show the power dynamics within a marriage at that time. However, it is a rather archaic and somewhat disturbing concept. In some stories, it could have been a way to depict a strict patriarchal society where the husband had a lot of control. But it's important to note that this doesn't represent modern values.
One story could be that the husband is always away on business trips. The wife is left alone in their big house. She starts to feel lonely and misses the early days of their relationship when they were always together. She tries to fill her time with hobbies like painting, but still longs for her husband's company.
One story could be that the fiction husband is a famous adventurer. He is always away on his exciting quests, leaving his wife all alone in their big, empty house. She spends her days waiting for him, feeling lonely as she looks at the empty chair at the dinner table where he should be. She tries to keep herself busy with gardening, but the silence of the house without him still gets to her.