Lucy’s thoughts on class really resonated with me. Many enclaves, many individuals discover their experiences don’t prepare them to fit into primary groups. This statement may sound vague, but being raised in poverty, in a separatist religious environment, and other similar situations, has a profound impact on assimilation. Lucy pointed out that her siblings couldn’t adapt so stayed where they were, while Lucy and David felt, if not inferior, then not totally accepted due to their origins. Catherine deliberately denied her origin and made Lucy feel inferior, but who know what she actually felt?
Woven throughout were examples of money and class based judgment and choices, it seems to be a central theme of the book—Catherine’s behavior toward Lucy and Lucy’s comfort level with David are just two examples.