Manhattan

The island of Manhattan is the main island for New York City. Manhattan holds special significance for both Clara and Taryn, separated by more than 90 years. Clara witnessed a horrible factory fire that left more than 100 casualties, including the man she felt she was destined to love, Edward Brim. The fire took place in the Lower East Side. Ever since the fire happened Clara does not want to have anything to do with Manhattan and resists setting foot on there for the majority of the novel. Eventually, a kind physician in residence, Ethan Randall, is able to loosen Clara’s fear of Manhattan and gets her to take the ferry there and carry out important business like meeting her father and learning more about Edward. Thus, for Clara Manhattan represents an obstacle towards overcoming her guilt, facing her grief, and working through the lingering trauma.

Manhattan is Taryn...