Why does Susanna take up her mother's work in spite of her frustrations with her mother? What do you expect her prospects of marriage are, as she reflects on them at the end of the novel?

Throughout the book, Susanna expresses a frustration with the rumors about her mother and her strange ways, which is exacerbated after Hamnet's death. Why do you think this daughter still takes up her mother's work in the garden, caring for the house, and teaching of Judith, in spite of these feelings?

What do you expect her prospects of marriage are, as she reflects on them at the end of the novel?

Susanna may have scoffed at her mother's work, but she also saw that it worked. Much of her relationship with her mother was based on them working with the plants, etc. It bound them together.
I also wondered about her prospects for marriage. However, they live in a huge house, have wealth, and Susanna is beautiful. This would certainly make her an attractive prospect for marriage.

I really felt bad for Susanna. I thought Agnes didn't really pay that much attention to her, and that she was by-and-large left to be raised by her grandmother, Mary. I also thought she exhibited the traits that eldest children are often known for - being responsible, overly critical, approval-seeking. And I think that's why she took over so many of her mother's duties - resentfully, to some extent. She felt like *someone* had to pick up the slack, and also that her father was relying on her to manage things. (She was, after all, the only one in the household that could really read, after Hamnet died and her father left.)

Susanna is a smart young woman and I think she felt a need to use her brain and talents rather than just sit around. I think she had a real sense of accomplishment and satisfaction in representing her father's interests in his investment. She also knows that while her mother needs time to grieve that the household needs to be taken care of and so she assumes the responsibility for it, though she, at the same time, is aware that her mother needs to snap out of her grief for her own sake. In an attempt to revive her mother, she urges her to come back into the garden, to go out and collect rose hips ect.

As to her chances for marriage--hard to say. The author does not bring young men into Susanna's life for us to assess. Nevertheless, this is a girl with a head on her shoulders, she's healthy, she's a good housekeeper, she is young and pretty, and she is wealthy. I suspect there will be bees buzzing around--but who knows how good a man he will be? Which of those attributes would be MOST attractive might make the difference.

Because I know Susanna did get married, I thought of her complaining as a teenage girl's melodrama. She seemed to be more her grandmother's girl than her mother's girl.

Susanna recognizes that learning her mother’s work is both a way to share and emotionally connect with her, and also earn some recognition in the town. It was a way to honor her mother and perhaps be “seen” by her, through their grief and mourning over the loss of Hamnet. I would predict that her chances of marriage will be very challenging, as the townspeople see this family as very different and apart from them, living in the fanciest house in town, having much wealth and yet having the father and provider living his own life in London and rarely returning home. There appears to be much skepticism and criticism of the family, yet the same townspeople sneakily approach the window to ask for remedies for their ailments. Susanna may end up earning the same outsider reputation as her mother.

I agree with a lot of thoughts shared above, but I wonder whether we're looking at interpersonal relationships, responsibilities, housekeeping, wealth, etc. with eyes of the 21st century. O'Farrell portrays the women as strong women, but their position in society was still governed by the males. Women had limited possible roles because of traditions.

I think Susanna was a strong young woman who needed to take care of herself. It seemed that Agnes doted more on the twins and this was a way to bond with her mother.

I agree with many of you on this one, Susanna didn't have a lot of choices and it seemed she had an affinity for plants and she was the obvious choice to keep the books since she could read.

Girls at that time didn’t have choices. Susanna did what she knew the household needed - running the house and tending to the books. And also using her knowledge of plants to help people - knowledge that she learned from her mother. I feel sure she married, whether happily or not, who knows? She certainly didn’t witness too many marriages that worked out well.