"After Leaving Mr. Mackenzie"

Paper Summary:

This paper summarizes and analyzes Jean Rhys' novel "After Leaving Mr. Mackenzie", focusing on the theme of free will a personal responsibility. The paper discusses the two main characters in the novel, sisters Julia and Noah, and how the question of free will is at the heart of the dispute between the two of them.

From the Paper:

"The first separation between Norah's lifestyle and Julia's is marriage: Julia married into relative wealth and away from her family, leaving Norah at home to the lifestyle Julia got to escape. By being the first person to leave, Julia evades the responsibilities which Norah is saddled with, and is afforded a second chance which by necessity Norah cannot have. As Julia explains to Mr. Horsfield, " 'I wanted to get away. I wanted it like--like iron. Besides, I wasn't frightened of anything. So I did get away. I married to get away.'" (51-52). By marrying, she has managed to escape her family and live a life of adventure--a life which was, at least for a time, apparently well-financed. Things looked promising for Julia: she had the escape from her family which she wanted, the opportunity for freedom, social mobility, travel and adventure, and her independence lightened the load for her family which was struggling to hold itself together. "

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