At the opening of the novel, Julie is living a difficult life. Even though she has two older sisters, most of the hard labor falls on her shoulders. Why? In what ways is Julie stronger, both physically and mentally, than the rest of her family? When she thinks about the work, Julie says, "I didn't have any choice" (Page xx). Is that true? What choices does Julie have? Be sure to include examples from the text to help strengthen your arguments.

On the night that Masenier dies, Julie notices "it was the prettiest night you ever saw." What message is Morgan sending the readers about the beauty and indifference of nature? Choose one more example of this relationship from the novel and describe it here. What is Morgan saying about the cycle of human life in the broad scope of nature? Be sure to...