Examine Helen’s character in terms of how she describes her own values and how these values dictate her actions. How does Helen’s self-sufficiency speak to the novel’s larger themes about personal responsibility and female independence, especially in comparison to other female characters?

There are various forms of communication, both private and public, used in the novel: letters, community gossip, a private diary. What role do these modes of communication play in illustrating some of the novel’s key themes? How do they aid in characterization?

Compare the various marriages in the novel. What does the novel suggest is the true basis for romance or intimacy? What are the characteristics of a bad marriage? How do men and women respond to marital expectations in the novel?