At the beginning of the poem, Evangeline is just 17 years old and has every advantage in life. Her father is the wealthiest farmer in the village, while she herself is gentle, beautiful, and much admired by everyone. She is about to be married to her childhood sweetheart. During the deportation, however, her whole world falls apart. Her father dies on the beach, and her husband of just five days is bundled off onto a ship while she remains at the shore. A life of endless trials and sorrow ensues as she seeks to be reunited with her husband after such a cruel reversal of fortune.

Evangeline’s situation is both tragic and desperate: How is she going to survive? She finds the solution in her Christian faith, in which she has been well schooled. “Charity, meekness, love, and hope, and forgiveness, and patience!” (Part 1, Canto IV, Line 120) are her watchwords from the beginning. The words of the notary, René Leblanc, who believes that divine justice will prevail, gives her inspiration. She is also under the tutelage of Father Felician, who encourages her to develop the spiritual qualities that will allow her to triumph over all adversity, as when he tells her: