Forge

What do you think Bellingham meant when he tells Curzon, “Everything is a trade, you know, even between a master and a servant[?]” Bellingham is a member of the Continental Congress—the provisional American government. Does he seem to truly believe in the idea of a democratic America?

When General Burgoyne surrenders his troops to the Colonial forces, Curzon expects his fellow soldiers to jeer and harass them as they pass. What changes within Curzon in this moment? Why are the passing soldiers met with such honor?

The experiences and hardships at Valley Forge helped to solidify and harden the Colonial Army. In what ways did hardship change or harden Curzon, Eben, and Isabel?

Do you think Curzon agrees with his father’s assertions that white people have “twisted hearts”? What in his experiences might make him agree or disagree?

Eben finds it very difficult to reconcile the American ideal in light of slavery and racial injustice. Are there other instances in the novel where seemingly opposite ideas are juxtaposed like this? Why might Anderson do this? What are we to learn or glean from such juxtapositions?

When Eben and Curzon reconcile, Eben confesses that he now believes if they’re to fight a war for freedom – that freedom should apply to everyone. Curzon is initially conflicted as to whether to accept his apology. Why?

When Isabel returns to Curzon at the end of the novel, she tells him her “ghosts” would not let her leave. What does she mean by that? What other “ghosts” are there in this story, and how do they shape the characters they follow?

After Curzon is made a gift to Bellingham from his father, he flees. As punishment, Judge Bellingham makes Curzon’s own father whip him with a leather strap. What is the significance of imagery like this?