Lyddie

Lyddie develops close relationships with several of her peers at Concord Corporation. Each young woman deepens Lyddie’s understanding of complex realities she had not been exposed to in her isolated life on the farm. Explore each of these relationships and how it helps shape Lyddie’s emerging worldview: Diana, Amelia, Betsy, Prudence, and Brigid. 

The adult characters in Lyddie can be grouped in two categories: those who exemplify fairness, compassion, and honesty, and those who are exploitative, selfish, and deceitful. What do these characters and their actions reveal about the historical context in which the novel takes place? Consider how a character’s age, gender, morals, social position, mindset, and economic standing propel their motives and decisions. Which characters nurture Lyddie’s growth and which thwart her efforts? Individuals to consider: Lyddie’s mother Mattie, Quaker Stevens, Ezekial (Abernathy) Freedman, Triphena, Mrs. Cutler, Mrs. Bedlow, Mr. Marsden, Uncle Judah.

Lyddie develops such an interest in Oliver Twist that she is inspired to improve her reading and expand her exposure to books. To what lengths does she go to enhance her literacy and access to new reading materials? Which works is she drawn to after Oliver Twist, and why do they capture her interest? What changes in Lyddie might be directly attributed to her newfound love of reading?

When Lyddie begins working at the Concord Corporation, Diana mentors her with kindness and patience. When Brigid is put under Lyddie’s tutelage, Lyddie is short with and resentful of Brigid. Why is Lyddie’s attitude so different from Diana’s? What events cause Lyddie to change her opinion of Brigid? How does her own experience mentoring a younger weaver enlighten her appreciation of Diana? 

Over time, all of Lyddie’s roommates leave the factory and return to their rural family homes. What persisting and changing conditions in the factory compel them to make these decisions? How do their attitudes change toward the labor activists they once distrusted? How does Lyddie cope with these changes; do they affect her the way they affect her peers? 

Explore the role that religion plays in Lyddie. How does Mattie’s faith affect her behavior and contribute to the loss of the Worthen farm? How does Amelia’s piety influence the way she interacts with Lyddie and the other mill workers? How does Lyddie feel about the Concord Corporation’s expectations related to church attendance? Consider how Luke Stevens’s devotion to his Quaker religion is evident in his gestures and actions. 

Power dynamics influence events in the novel, particularly with respect to how the actions, values, and behaviors of adults dictate the course of Lyddie’s life. In what ways can Lyddie be considered powerless? In what ways does she exert control over her life and her future despite the actions of those who are more powerful than she is?

When Lyddie sees Brigid about to be assaulted by Mr. Marsden, she reacts more forcefully than she did when she was defending herself. What motivates Lyddie’s instinctual protection of Brigid with no thought about the consequences? How does this echo the sacrifices she made to take care of her brother and sisters? How does this action reflect her growing solidarity with her fellow workers and her growing confidence in herself?