Riders of the Purple Sage | Short Essay Answer Key

Short Essay Answer Key

1. In Utah the Mormons are usually prosperous, while the Gentiles barely make enough to eat. Do you think Jane's father made his money in a way that hurt or used Gentiles in the area?

By making his money with water, Jane's father hurt the Gentiles. He owned the only local water source, and he sold the water to Cottonwoods. But it seems he sold it to the Mormons, who in turn sold it again to the Gentiles and made a profit. It is clear that the Mormons are charging rent to the Gentiles and not telling Jane, and they might have done the same thing to her father, but it is never explained who profits and why.

2. Jane is torn between her love for the Mormon church and the reality of the actions of it's leaders. How is this internal conflict reflected in...
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