Question

In A Northern Light, why do you think Grace asks Mattie to destroy her letters?

Accepted Answer

While Mattie is working as a maid for the Glendale Hotel she is asked by a guest, Grace, to burn some letters.  Mattie puts the letters into her apron pocket and doesn't give them another thought until the woman turns up dead.  She had gone out on the lake with a male friend who turns out not to be who he said he was.
As the reader learns Grace is pregnant and the letters are love letters.  During this time in our history it was not acceptable for a lady to act as Grace has acted and to be unwed and pregnant was something "good women" just didn't do.  Grace asked Maggie to burn the letters so that no one would find out about her secret and maybe because she knew that she was in danger.  Grace was in a bad position and I think she knew that she would probably not return from the afternoon outing.

A Northern Light

In A Northern Light, why do you think Grace asks Mattie to destroy her letters?

Expert Answers

Unlock This Answer Now

Related Questions

In A Northern Light by Jennifer Donnelly, how did the main character Mattie Gokey grow as a person?

In "A Northern Light", did Mattie ever go to college?

What are five literary elements in A Northern Light?I'm doing a novel review and need help.

How does gender impact or affect Mattie's decisions in A Northern Light? How does gender affect Royal's decisions and Pa's decisions?

What does the title A Northern Light mean, and why did Jennifer Donnelly choose this?