At first, Prudence was portrayed two-dimensionally as an angry, bitter spinster. However, there was more depth to her than fist met the eye. Her mother died when she was young, and she lacked a strong female role model. She fell in love with Thomas, whose love was not reciprocated. If she could have talked to someone about the situation, she might not have set out to destroy the reputation of Susie Domer. I think that finding the letter tacked to the rusty nightstand was a pivotal moment for her. It gave her hope that there could be one shining moment in your life of happiness, even when you feel you live in great darkness, and you should hold on to that. Prudence, setting out to destroy Kate, was desperate to keep the only family she felt she had, her brother. I don't think I would have been able to survive life in Appalachia. I did not empathize at all with Roy. His upbringing should not be an excuse for the murders he committed and the terror he wrought. I did empathize a bit with Billy. He, like Prudence, experienced unrequited love. Both were willing to destroy in the 'name of love.' Being thrown out in a blue slip by his mother's boyfriend into the cold night led to Roy becoming his savior and twisting the outcome of his life.