Character- jemima

These are some words that would describe Mattie :

Stalwart (courageous)- m Mattie at 17 years old left her home, broke of engagement and went to college, in a new town where she knew no one to start a life for herself. "I thought about turning around when I got to the old forge, but I didn't. There's no going back once you've already gone." Pg 377 'And all I wanted was my own story and no one else's' pg 192

Truehearted (Loyal)-Will not leave her family to go to college at a certain point of the book. Even when she does leave to go to college at the end of book she sends them some money and make sure they are able to live and work without her! "You won't go will you matt?" Said Beth " I'm not going anywhere" Beth I said forcing a smile. More and more, I was seeing my dreams of going to college as just that-dreams. I couldn't leave. I knew that. Deep inside, I'd always known it.' Pg 229-230

Determined-Mattie is always determined to get to college and make something of her life. She never really gets a chance to do so, so she creates her own chance and goes for it. For a girl from rural farmland this is a big thing! Woman were expected to find a husband and run a family but Mattie managed to beat all these odds being determined as she was and make a life for herself. An example of this is how Mattie is constantly thinking of plans to get to college. ' then I talked about Barnard (the college). And how even my aunt wouldn't loan me the money and my uncle had broken his promise to me and how I knew I couldn't go without money and leave my family, but I still wished I could' pg190

Easily targeted- Mattie was easily targeted especially by Royal. She let him persuade her to marry him without much time to get to know each other. In Mattie's eyes Royal seems perfect but at points she doubts wether he really likes her or he likes her father's farm. In the end she realises she has been used and breaks of her engagement and starts her own life. An example of this is when Mattie is reading one of Grace Browns letters that bring her to realisation that royal is using her " poor, sad, stupid Grace" I whisper to the darkness "poor, sad, stupid Matt" pg 303

Independent- Mattie was highly independent! After her mothers death she was made to care for her 4 sisters and take care of the household. After a while she was eventually made to go find work to support herself and her family. She manages to manage her life at home and at school only just which leaves little time for recreation or leisure activities. Making her independent and a hard worker. An example of her independence is her leaving her life by herself to explore other places and make a life. ' There where more chores to do. The wood box next to the stove was empty. There are ashes to dump and Beth could use my help with the darning' pg 206 ' he hoists me onto the 10:15 south board. To Utica and Herkimer. And all points south to Amsterdam and Albany and beyond. To New York City. To my future. My life.' Pg 380

In the novel 'A gathering light' Mattie has an interesting relationship with Royal. Royal is a handsome and striking boy that lives on the farm down the road from Mattie's. He takes a sudden and surprising liking to Mattie about half way through the book. Mattie is shocked but delighted in his sudden interest in her. Mattie soon begins to 'spark' with Royal and she is swept of her feet with her first taste of romance. But as the romance continues I think they both discover they are different people at heart. Royal being destined to be a great farmer and Mattie's love of books and words setting them far apart. Mattie's finds that in a way Royal was kind of using her to get her father's land when he died and she decides to follow her dreams and go to college to study the thing she loves. Royal and Mattie are portrayed as very different characters throughout the story. Royal is portrayed as handsome, hardworking, out of doors type person with dreams of owning a cheese factory and a big farm, at points he could almost be described as flirtatious. Mattie however can be described as plain, academic, with a love of words she has dreams of becoming a writer and going to college. Eventually these personalities begin to clash and they realise they are not seeing each other as they truly are. An example of this is when Royal gives her a book for her birthday and she opens it and it is a second hand stained cook book then she starts to realise that royal doesn't understand her and maybe she has been foolish.