Geraldine Brooks 'Year Of Wonders'

'Year of Wonders' Essay

Topic: What are the pivotol experiences that lead to Anna's discovery of her true self?

The experiences of an individual have the ability to immensely affect and shape their character, life and ultimately, their whole future. Geraldine Brooks' novel, 'Year of Wonders' shows us that catastrophe and disasters can lead people to change in many ways, sometimes revealing their true identity. Following an outbreak of the plague, the villagers in Eyam, a small town in England, make the difficult decision to quarantine themselves and block their connections with the outside world. This story is followed through the eyes of Anna Frith, a single mother of two boys, who in the end, emerges as the unlikely hero of the novel.
This allows Anna to develop more confidence in her knowledge and become a stronger, more assertive woman. When Elinor calls for Anna's help to deliver Mary Daniel's child, she is at first hesitant to assist because her own mother died during childbirth when she was just four years old. Elinor insists, however, telling Anna that "You know a very great deal more than you think you do" and eventually, Anna gives in and prepares to deliver the baby, recalling memories from her own first confinement to help her. Anna tries not to think about the fact that she is about to "invade the body of a living woman", however she quickly overcomes this thought, and tries to "...quiet that part of my mind hammering away about modesty and violation." Although she is unsure of what she is doing, she acts as though she does, as she thinks it important that Mary sees her acting confidently. Once her hands were inside of Mary, however, it seemed as though her flesh "felt as familiar" to her as her own and Anna has little difficulty in helping her deliver the baby. Afterwards, they laughed and "for an hour, in that season of death," they celebrated a life. This particular event sees Anna developing a part of her that is confident and sure of her own knowledge and skills. Due to her experiences in birthing livestock, Anna is already equipped with the skills necessary to assist in childbirth but there exists a different part of her inside that is naturally gifted in midwifery and it is this part that truly allows her to shine and take control of what she can do thus leading her to discover her natural confidence and