Why is it important that the novel is narrated in the first person from Isabella’s point of view? Is Isabella a reliable or unreliable narrator? How does telling the story through her viewpoint affect the tone and movement of the plot? How might the novel read differently if told in the omniscient third-person perspective?

What compromises does Isabella make to fit into Boston society, and what does she refuse to do? What does she believe that friendship and community would offer her?

What does it say about Isabella’s character that she can comfortably interact with men who work as gardeners, waiters, and more? What do artists and intellectuals offer her? What do these characters see and respect in Isabella?