SuitabookThe book of the maidservant
Rebecca Barnhouse
- Reading
- Check in after the scenes of strenuous travel and group conflict. You could pause to discuss what choices Johanna has, and what options might be available to her.
- Themes
- Devotion and care: Dame Margery is described as deeply religious and as feeling the Virgin Mary's suffering, yet caring little for the misery she sees. This contrast raises a question about how religious feeling relates to practical care, but the work's overall judgement is not clear.
- Loyalty and vulnerability: Johanna is caught between her mistress and the other travellers, then is left behind as the group conflict escalates. The situation foregrounds Johanna's vulnerable position within the group; whether the story frames her choices as loyalty or self-reliance is unclear.
- Worth knowing
- The journey includes physical hardship, fear and anger, escalating arguments, and Johanna being left in unfamiliar surroundings. These elements may merit attention if your reader finds such situations difficult.