Feminism
Bella Baxter can be annoying at times, but there is no doubting that she has made quite a name for herself. She is known in the town for being a strong feminist, and often criticizes her husband for his interpretation of her. When her husband writes an autobiography, she gets quite angered at the depiction of herself, which simply makes her more focused on the inequalities between men and women.
Alasdair Gray focuses on the humor and die-hard attitude of Bella Baxter's feminism, but also tries to make the point that Baxter doesn't get a fair shot at expressing her own opinions.
Skewing the Truth
Alasdair Gray is certainly one for not telling the truth, as he claims he is only the "editor" for the fictitious characters in his novel. Obviously, this is not true, but it is yet another example of all the lies that people make to make themselves look better and fit into society. The autobiography of Archibald McCandless is perhaps the best example, as it portrays Bella as something that she definitely is not. Although this makes him look better because he is an "ideal" husband in the Victorian Era, it simply further infuriates Bella.
