Essay Questions

What distinguishes Mrs. Borden and Miss Harper’s way of life?

The author tactically uses these two characters to explain the cultural expectations of women and their roles. Miss Harper is a single childless woman who has decided to adopt a girl called Catherine. Miss Harper solely manages her affairs about business and family. On the other hand, Mrs. Borden is a married woman with many children, and she is still pregnant. Mrs. Borden stays at home to take care of children and help her husband in running their property. Therefore, Mrs. Borden meets the culture's expectations in which a woman is expected to give birth, stay at home and help her husband. On the contrary, Miss Harper has gone a different route and decided to be single, childless, and take care of her business.

Why does Miss Harper want to keep Catherine for herself only?

As time goes, Miss Harper realizes that she is becoming lonely since she has no husband or biological children. The only honorable thing she has is Catherine, her adopted girl. The relationship between Catherine and Harper grows every day. Ironically, Miss Harper does not want Catherine to have relationships with men because she fears losing her. Miss Harper thinks that if Catherine I married, she is will remain lonely. Mrs. Borden is concerned that Catherine might end up being single due to the influence she receives from her adopted mother.

The well is predominantly mentioned in the book; what does it represent?

The well is figuratively used in the book to represent Miss Harper's fears. Miss Harper uses the well to dispose of dirty things, including hiding the body of a man they hit while driving. Later, Harper realizes that all her money is lost, and it is with the man she dumped inside the well. After bringing the rope to retrieve the money from the well, Harper notices Catherine's communication with the man, and she has been providing for his needs throughout the day. Harper abruptly feels ill, and she does not know what happens next. Harper fears that she might lose Catherine forever.