Independence Versus Dependence

The main conflict with which both Cassia and Julian struggle is their sense of independence. For Cassia, this struggle for independence comes from a long history of abandonment and abuse at the hands of the men who were supposed to love her. After leaving Aretas, Cassia swears that she will never again be controlled by a man - neither real nor spiritual. For this reason, she struggles to understand her relationships with Julian and his Savior, Jesus Christ. Cassia has always relied only on herself, so it is difficult for her to trust a man she has only known for a few weeks, particularly when it comes to her most prized treasure: her only son. Cassia's inability to trust others and to release her control play a large role in Cassia's spiritual journey. When the novel opens, Cassia is a broken, destitute woman in dire need...