The Exiles

The Victorian period in England—and, by default, the British colonies across the vast British empire—is well-known for its mistreatment of women, specifically regarding a lack of rights and ownership. How do the narratives of Evangeline, Hazel, and Ruby (25 years later) show the changing dynamic of women in society over the course of only three decades?

What do Mathinna, Evangeline, and Hazel have in common? Consider their statuses in their communities and their power, or lack thereof, to make their own choices.

Is the end of Mathinna’s story tragic or inspiring? Look at it from both perspectives. How does Kline describe Mathinna at the end of the novel, and can you overlook your own initial judgment of her description?

How are wealth, race, and gender intertwined in the novel? How does the author critique the social hierarchy of England in the mid-Victorian period?

Though Kline never specifically addresses British history in the novel, her characters serve as representatives of popular British policy at the time. How does Kline critique British policy through those characters and their words/actions?

One of the only men in the novel to break the status quo is Doctor Dunne. How does he represent the concept of the “modern man”?

Though Ruby exists as a silent child for most of the novel, the final chapter belongs to her. Why? What does she represent, and how does she connect the other narratives?

Consider Evangeline’s growth from the beginning of her story to her death. How does she foreshadow what is to come for women’s rights in England?