Elizabeth and Nathaniel are assisted by many enlightened friends, such as the Schuylers. How is Elizabeth’s life shaped by the death of her mother? How does the memory of her mother affect her idea of womanhood? Does Julian react differently to that aspect of their family history?ġ0.

How is Hannah affected by having Elizabeth in her life? What does Elizabeth teach her about feeling valued?ĩ. What does Julian’s relationship with Kitty say about him? What accounts for their attraction to each other? How does Kitty’s pregnancy change their lives, and the lives of those around them?Ĩ. What common ground do Richard and Nathaniel share? What accounts for their very different approaches to life, despite their similar history?ħ. Why was Elizabeth hesitant to begin a relationship? Would you have been tempted to marry Richard? How would you have fared in a marriage that deprived you of property rights?Ħ. How did the colonists featured in Into the Wilderness justify their personal quest for freedom while advocating slavery? How did Elizabeth’s father reconcile his upbringing with the beliefs of his fellow citizens?ĥ. How does this compare to the way Judge Middleton and Richard think of land? Does Judge Middleton think of Elizabeth as property too, or is he simply looking out for her best interests in a time when single women faced significant challenges?Ĥ. Discuss the Native American notion of land as a spiritual homeland, not a commodity that can be bought and sold with money. How is Nathaniel affected by his past? When he recalls his previous wife’s desire to be white and his desire to be red, what cultural ideals is he describing?ģ. What gives Elizabeth the courage to fight for the vindication of women? How does her vision of the New World compare to that of most early American immigrants?Ģ.

Into the Wilderness by Sara Donati