Year of Wonders by Geraldine Brooks Essay - 828 Words.
The young and beautiful wife of Michael Mompellion, Elinor is Anna 'a employer, her comrade in fighting the plague, and by the end of the novel her confidante and friend. Elinor acts as a big sister to the lonely Anna, teaching her to read, encouraging her to develop her powers of scientific reasoning, and helping her come to understand the events of her troubled past, such as her mother’s.
This is also shown through her learning of medicine under Elinor Mompellion, as the death and suffering around her act as a catalyst for her to undertake these studies, so that she may fight the plague in some way. Anna also undertakes a spiritual journey over the course of the book. Her learning of the villages’ Rector, Michael Mompellion’s true thoughts near the novels end, as well as.
This transition is marked by the change in how she refers to Elinor, from “Mrs. Mompellion” at first to “my friend” later, and using her first name. This change in address indicates that she becomes comfortable with her equality to Elinor and that she deserves such a position. It was Elinor, in fact, who was the main influence on Anna’s defying of class boundaries, as Elinor’s own.
When the plague comes to the town of Eyam in the book; Year of Wonders by Geraldine Brooks, we see many interesting reactions from the residents. The most interesting and maybe contrasting to the times is the reactions of Anna Frith, but is she really the hero of the hour? When one looks at the work of Elinor Mompellion, could it be that she was the one who stepped up to save the day with her.
Elinor Mompellion is the preacher’s wife and Anna’s closest friend in Year of Wonders. She is kind and even-tempered, and her wealthy childhood afforded her the luxury of being well-read and versed in a number of languages. However, Elinor gave up her life of affluence after marrying Michael Mompellion. She is grateful to Michael for marrying her, though it is slowly revealed that their.
Brooks revealed Mompellion’s true idea of women as the “dregs of the Devils Dunghill”, which in turn exposed his true relationship with Elinor. Mompellion was portrayed by Brooks to have a flawed understanding of women’s value in society as shown through his thoughts towards them, and also the actions of women such as Anna through the.
Elinor Mompellion is a prime example of this along with Michael Mompellion and Anna Frith. But not all characters fall into this category, Colonel Bradford is one who lives by conventional properties and cares not for anyone but himself. Elinor Mompellion’s desire to help those in need is so overwhelming that the she cares little for conventional properties. Her concern for others is evident.
Elinor Mompellion, pages 146-147. Elinor’s admission to Anna that she was once addicted to opiates is the first glimpse into the idea that Elinor’s life is not faultless. Yet this quote shows Anna that Elinor will not judge her for wanting to escape the hurt and pain caused by losing her children. Elinor also addresses how addiction arises. With the opiates, the need for escape takes over.
Elinor tells Anna how fortunate she (Elinor) is to have such a good husband in Michael and good friend in Anna. She asks Anna to be a good friend to her husband as he will need one. Elinor is soon delirious and speaks at first as a child, then intimately to her husband. Mompellion rather coldly sends Anna on her way. As Elinor returns to health,she obviously was not struck by the plague but by.
Elinor Mompellion takes the uneducated Anna under her wing and teaches her how to read. The two women become close as they struggle to care for their village. Michael Mompellion comes up with the idea that the villagers should burn all of their belongings to attempt to get rid of the plague. Michael’s plan works and he holds a service of thanks to celebrate the end of the plague. During the.
Elinor Mompellion’s teenage lust leads her to fall pregnant at a very young age, leading her to have an abortion. Her lust shows that she is fully human, and her husband’s decision to take up celibacy, which he later regrets, shows his own human nature. Human nature is also outlined in Anna’s desire and jealousy of Elinor’s relationship with her husband, leading her to sleep with.
Year of Wonders is a cross between a Victorian romance and a modern feminist tale. Anna, the novelist’s narrator, is a strong woman who demonstrates repeatedly that she can make her way in the.
By the end of the plague and upon Elinor’s death, Mompellion suffers a crisis of faith, suffering a severe emotional conflict whereby the reality of his character is uncovered. He ultimately loses his faith in God, seeing his life of religious servitude as “based upon a lie”, finding God to be a “poor listener”. His dismal reaction and complete loss of faith and conviction reveal his.
