Year Of Wonders Character Analysis

Essay: Year of Wonders

“I wonder if you know how much you have changed”
While a catalyst of change for some, not all those in the novel are transformed by “year of wonders”. Discuss.

Change is an external component in people’s lives, which has the great power to transform us. When something unusual occurs or changes are introduced into our lives, we are affected and are forced to react to the unfamiliarity. This will call on us to change certain aspects of our lives and as a result we will learn and grow as characters from the experience. In “Year of Wonders” the people of the town of Eyam are evicted from their comfort zones and are uncompromisingly placed into the gruelling catastrophe of a plague. The devastation of the plague is
Elinor’s relationship with Anna is highlighted as one filled with care and compassion. This is demonstrated through Elinor’s intuition that she provides to Anna. Anna benefits immensely from Elinor’s assistance, “Within a year of her coming” Elinor teaches Anna to read as well as providing her with lessons in all aspects of life. Elinor therefore provides the change for Anna and assists her to change. Anna craves Elinor’s teaching as Elinor never let “a minute pass without trying to better me, and for the most part I was a willing pupil.” She enjoyed learning as she thrives on this knowledge and she gains confidence from it. She then is able to apply this invaluable knowledge in practical terms, to the situations when the plague takes hold of her community. She finds strength to continue in the hardship by adapting to the circumstances she is in and by the end of the text; she is quite a different person than the “shy child” she was at the beginning. She has transformed positively into a leader and hero through her interaction with struggle and additionally through her constant guiding by Elinor to be the best she can
Michael Mompellion, The rector of Eyam, is the fundamental reason why the town takes the brave decision of going into quarantine with the exception of the Bradfords who flee. He ”naturally took charge” and does through his leadership role, he persuades the town that “here we are, and here we must stay” and makes it clear to “let none enter and none leave while this plague lasts.” He is successful in his persuasion by ensuring his people that there is no alternative and that they must endure the ‘trial’ that has been sent by God as a “gift”. Whilst the town risks its well being by staying within the confines of the “wide green prison” it is enhancing the benefit for others as they attempt to halt the spread of the disease. His thought of believing that god sent the “scourge” in goodwill displays his faith however as he realises the suffering of the community is his fault, he becomes traumatised by what he has brought upon the village. His faith and belief is slowly diminished as he concludes that it “seems that there is no God” and that what he had asked of himself and his wife, Elinor was “wrong.” with this key facet of his life lost, he becomes a weaker character overall and continues on an emotional downfall, being negatively transformed by the