"Barren Ground," a novel by Ellen Glasgow, vividly portrays the relentless struggle of individuals against the harsh conditions of life. Through the character of Dorinda Oakley, Glasgow explores themes of love, survival, and the impact of fate and character on one's destiny. Set in rural Virginia, the novel weaves a narrative of resilience and the bittersweet realities of life on an unforgiving land.

The Struggles of Rural Life

"Barren Ground" paints a grim picture of life for farmers striving to extract a living from an inhospitable earth. The novel reflects Glasgow's belief that "the novel is experience illumined by imagination," as she delves into the harsh realities faced by those who toil the land. A spectrum of outcomes awaits these characters: a few manage to overcome the odds, others barely eke out an existence, and some succumb to despair and an early demise. The narrative underscores that success comes only to those who relentlessly persevere, often requiring a stark adjustment of idealistic dreams to fit the unyielding reality.

Dorinda Oakley's Journey

Central to the narrative is Dorinda Oakley, whose life epitomizes Glasgow’s theme that life is often "barren ground where they have to struggle to make anything grow." Beyond the challenges of agriculture, Dorinda faces personal heartbreak when her romantic ideals are shattered by her lover's betrayal. Glasgow suggests that for Dorinda, "love and happiness [are] interchangeable terms," and the loss of love leaves her emotionally barren. This emotional wound leads her to build protective barriers against men, exemplified in her marriage to Nathan Pedlar, a relationship devoid of passion but chosen out of a fear of loneliness and the need for companionship.

The Unseen Forces at Play

LIKE the protagonists in Thomas Hardy’s novels, Dorinda is a character caught in a web of forces beyond her control, subjected to the whims of what she perceives as "eternal purpose." Her life is a series of unexpected incidents—a tragic train trip, a fateful meeting with Jason, and a pivotal fall on Fifth Avenue—that redirect her path. Despite feeling like "a straw in the wind," Dorinda occasionally finds fortune on her side, as seen in her recuperation in a New York hospital. Yet, Glasgow infuses the narrative with the notion that while external events shape one's journey, character is the ultimate determinant of fate.

Character and Destiny

Glasgow posits that "character is fate," suggesting that the destinies of her characters are influenced by their inherent natures, shaped by their ancestry and the "blood" they inherit. Dorinda's resilience, symbolized by her "vein of iron," is a legacy of her great-grandfather's southern aristocracy and her father's robust "poor white" class. This contrasts with Jason, who mirrors his father's failures due to "bad blood." Hence, the interplay of character and circumstance creates the tapestry of one's life, with character governing responses to life's challenges.

Archetypes and Isolation

In Dorinda, Glasgow crafts a nuanced character who evolves from a Medea-like figure, betrayed by a Jason, to an Artemis or Atalanta, fiercely independent and detached from male influence. This transformation underscores the novel's exploration of human isolation. Yet paradoxically, Dorinda embodies the "earth mother" archetype, channeling her maternal instincts into nurturing the land and Nathan’s children, particularly John Abner. Despite psychological incompleteness, she attains a sense of fulfillment and achieves a rare wholeness through her connection to the soil, excelling in farming beyond the capabilities of her male counterparts.

Life's Echoes and Reversals

Dorinda's experiences echo those of her mother, marked by a loveless marriage following a lover's desertion. However, unlike her mother, Dorinda combines hard work with a contentment absent in her mother’s life. Jason mirrors Dorinda's journey to New York and return to a dying parent, yet he succumbs to life’s adversities. In contrast, Dorinda remains indomitable, her existence a testament to the strength of her character and the indelible bond with the land she cultivates. Her story is a profound reflection on the human condition, the resilience of spirit, and the complex interplay of fate, character, and the pursuit of fulfillment amidst life's barrenness.