Do you agree that Augusta and Lilly had no options? Did their social class play into this at all? How are things the same today, and how are they different?

Augusta thinks that she had "little power over even her own life, much less her beloved Lilly's." Do you agree that these women had no options? Did their social class play into this at all? How are things the same today, and how are they different?

I don't agree that they had "no" options. There are always options. I do think, however, that their options were limited because of their social status and the era in which they lived. It seems like, from other reading I've done, that lower-class women had more freedom, while upper-class women were more ornamental (especially in the South).

I don't really think there are any limits at all on what a woman can do these days, although I think we can feel trapped due to children and/or finances.

I agree with Kimk - there are always options. However, the social mores of the upper class at the time as well as a lack of role models and financial independence likely stymied Lilly and Augusta from envisioning a different way of life. With that said, when faced with the inevitability of continued abuse from her husband Lilly had started to plan on a different life.

As for today, unfortunately, there are still pockets of women, even “groups” of people, whose choices are hindered by beliefs, cultural expectations, political systems, etc.

I agree with KimK. There are always options, but in the time of this book women were more limited in how and what they could do.
Today, women can reach for anything. Yes, there may still be limitations, but we also have more resources to draw on when needed.

Yes, kimk put it very well. Lily was able to escape but I think it wasn't easy for her. There were definitely limits then and still some today. There are also a lot of expectations for women and as Gabi says even today choices are limited based on several factors.