Homecoming

Early in the novel, Isabel reflects that her husband Thomas “had quite fixed ideas about motherhood. And wifedom” (3). What are Thomas’s implied views on the nature of matrimony and motherhood? How does Morton use the characters of Isabel, Nora, Polly, and Meg to explore Thomas’s traditional perspectives?

What role does the Australian landscape play in the novel, and how does it contribute to the themes of the story?

Discuss Morton’s use of Miller’s book as an embedded narrative in the novel. How does the presence of this secondary narrative deepen the meaning of the story?

Nora tells Jess that “[t]hey had been each other’s second chance” (39). What does Nora mean by this, and how does the novel explore the idea of second chances in other ways? Use specific examples from the text to support your analysis.

In the absence of evidence, the police and the Tambilla community decide that Isabel is the murderer. How do they retroactively justify such an accusation, and how does Morton explore the complexities of confirmation bias?

Analyze Morton’s use of literature throughout the novel, paying particular attention to the works of classic literature that she chooses to focus on, as well as their function in the narrative.

Although Percy Summers might be seen as a side character, he is deeply involved in the Turner Tragedy and its aftermath in a number of ways. Analyze Percy’s character and his overall function in the story.

Loneliness is a pervasive feature in many of the character’s lives. How does Morton explore the topic of loneliness, and what conclusions does the novel come to on this topic?