Christina Olson lives a limited life. Beyond her illness, what limits Christina? Where did you agree, or disagree, with the choices she makes?

Christina Olson's life is limited by her parents, her illness, and the realities of a rural life in the first half of the 20th century. But she does make decisions that affect the course of her life. What are some of the major consequences of Christina's choices? Which choices did you agree with, and with which did you disagree?

The biggest choice she made that set her limits was her refusal to get medical help. The other decision that was made for her by her father, was not continuing her education.

Christina's parents definitely limited her. Not allowing her to get more education because she was a girl was very limiting. That she was stuck on the farm limited her relationship with Walton because she had to wait for him to come back every summer. Then, of course, her disability limited her physically. She did continue to do most things for her self and to sew even though she was disabled. This should her determination. If she had someone to encourage her I think she would have left the farm and accomplished more. Even her brother enabling by the fact he continued to stay with her and take care of the place and not seek a life of his own.

She limited herself in her later life. True her parents wouldn't allow her to pursue teaching position and advance her education but she could have been more social within her community--developed a circle of friends--she rebuffed opportunities for that. She could have traveled to Boston before her summer friends got married and became so involved in their own lives that they no longer spent time or wrote to her--if she'd made tighter bonds with them, that avenue would have remained open. She should have sought some medical help--although the book makes it clear that she must have at some time, since it says that Doctors could not determine what was wrong with her. She became complacent when her brother remained with her, instead of making as big an effort to get out in the world as she did to move around in the big farmhouse she chose for her world

Christina’s life is limited because physically she’s not able to walk but beyond her inability to walk, she limits her broader contact with the world. Christina closes herself off so she is surrounded by only what is familiar and what she can control. I don’t agree or disagree with her choices since ultimately only each person knows what is best for themselves and I think Christina has decided what is best for her.

I think a lot of constraints circle around Christina - some imposed on her by the people and situation around her and some she latches onto and boxes her self in. There were opportunities for her to chose a different path but she didn't. She is, in many instances, self-isolating and her family as well as the land and house itself supports her unfortunate decision. On the other hand, this is a safe and comfortable choice for her. That's not unlike decisions the rest of us make - big and small. It's an unfortunate human habit to stick to what we know and entrench ourselves in the role that leaves us most comfortable, even if there are brighter opportunities out there.

I think a lot of constraints circle around Christina - some imposed on her by the people and situation around her and some she latches onto and boxes her self in. There were opportunities for her to chose a different path but she didn't. She is, in many instances, self-isolating and her family as well as the land and house itself supports her unfortunate decision. On the other hand, this is a safe and comfortable choice for her. That's not unlike decisions the rest of us make - big and small. It's an unfortunate human habit to stick to what we know and entrench ourselves in the role that leaves us most comfortable, even if there are brighter opportunities out there.

First of all, she limits her life by refusing medical help as a child and later as an adult. Her father limited her education, and her mother clearly wanted her to remain on the farm, which further limited her choices. Her choice to remain in her home and on the farm really set in stone the remainder of her life.

As Christina matures her fears surrounding her also grew in size. She was mainly limited by fear of failure in all things normal.