Reply To: Martha and Ephraim’s past

Home / Forums / Author Forums / Ariel Lawhon / The Frozen River / Martha and Ephraim’s past / Reply To: Martha and Ephraim’s past

January 21, 2025 at 1:48 pm #33291

The interstitial chapters in The Frozen River give us important insights into who Martha and Ephraim were as a young couple. Insights into how their relationship grew over the years. Given the Puritanical thinking of the times I was surprised by how many young women became pregnant out of wed lock. Be it consensual or rape. Ephraim’s taking responsibility for Martha and possibly an unborn child due to her being raped impressed me. His patience with Martha in their marital relationship showed how much he not only loved her but respected her as an equal human being. Teaching her to read and write further clarified his acceptance of Martha as an equal not a possession. Giving her the skills of literacy helped secure her future. He guaranteed it to be full and rewarding in every way. It was quite obvious they held each other in high regard by the way they communicated, supported each other and cared for their children. These short chapters were an important part of developing the dynamic of the Burgess family.

  • This reply was modified 2 weeks, 6 days ago by Libby Baker.
avataravataravataravataravataravataravatar