The Birth House

The protagonist and narrator of the story, Dora Rare is 17 to 20 years old for most of this book. She describes herself as having been “born with coal black hair, cinnamon skin and a caul over my face” (5). The townspeople believe her caul may give her unnatural powers. However, the novel spans from her birth to nearly her death, as she is implied to be an elderly woman in the Prologue and Epilogue. She is the only girl in her family, with six brothers. A lover of novels, she has naïve ideas about grand romance and “happily ever after” at the start of the story. As she grows and experiences the harsh realities of life, especially life in a small, superstitious town, she abandons these childish ideas and grows into an independent woman. When she travels to Boston, she embraces her independence and learns to fight for herself and what she knows is right. Returning to Scots Bay, she finally fully accepts the role of midwife. She opens her home as the birth house, a free home for any women who need help.