Reply To: Martha’s choices
Home / Forums / Author Forums / Ariel Lawhon / The Frozen River / Martha’s choices / Reply To: Martha’s choices

The mothers and mothers-in-law are too in awe of a Harvard educated doctor in their town, accepting his incompetence for real medicine. So, I do not believe that any amount of warning would have changed their minds. I think the best warning was Mrs. Hendricks, Grace Sewell’s mother. A Boston matron with “high ideals and a sour expression.” She enlists Martha to deliver Dr. Page’s wife’s baby because Mrs. Henricks will be leaving soon and if his wife dies, her daughter will have nothing, having lost that friendship. She has also come to respect Martha. Mrs. Hendricks intimidates Dr. Page, even grabbing his ear and twisting it hard, asks Melody if she wants their help and then dismisses Dr. Page. Because of Mrs. Hendricks’ motivation and Martha successfully delivering the baby, Martha is able to demand as payment that Dr. Page never attend a woman in childbirth ever again.