Reply To: Martha and Ephraim’s past

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January 22, 2025 at 4:10 pm #33340

I’m not always a fan of jumping timelines, but I think these chapters enrich the characters a great deal and help explain the dynamics going on in 1789. Ephraim comes across as the dream man, even more so with the chapters that go back in time. He’s so considerate and thoughtful. Yet, these chapters also reveal Ephraim has a harsher edge – a brutal pragmatism, such as when he forces Martha to watch Crane’s hanging: “This is justice…you need to see it done.” Or after their children’s death he wants to pick up and leave right away. Incidentally, the reveal that North had given the deciding vote with Crane – I liked this reveal because it made me wonder what had happened in the intervening years to sour the friendship between North and the Pollards. Was it only Rebecca’s case that did that? It also casts a bit of confusion as to why North would rape Rebecca. It’s not in keeping with his past behaviour. This little tidbit at least makes it more believable as to why some townsfolk sided with North, based on his past actions.

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