The shipwreck survivors awaken the sleeping physician inside Sophie. Do you think this would have happened on its own, in time, or did she need something to jolt her?

The shipwreck survivors--Catherine Bellegarde in particular--awaken the sleeping physician inside Sophie. Do you think this would have happened on its own, in time, or did she need something to jolt her from that slumber?

I believe Sophie had a true calling as a physician and that she would have returned to medicine even without the experience of the ship wreck survivors. Although not everyone experiences this in their lifetime, some do and they go on to an almost preordained place in their vocation. Sophie was an amazing woman, considering the times and restrictions on a female, that she lived in.

I liked the idea that she picked up medicine as a long lost scarf that she wrapped around herself. Surely it would have happened sooner or later, but the shipwreck was indeed a big jolt.

I think being a doctor was in her soul. It was not what she did, it was who she was. If the shipwreck had not occurred to awaken her, some other event would have.

I agree with the other commenters and feel that healing is an intrinsic part of Sophie's nature, so it would have surfaced at one point or another. But I did enjoy the sub-plot introduced by the shipwreck and think it served as an interesting jumping off point to advance the plot and illuminate other topics such as one of the ways children entered the adoption cycle. It also gave a bit more depth to Sophie's cultural background.

I think her calling would have awoken in her at some point but this probably made it happen sooner. However coming back with the murder investigation still ongoing would have helped as well.

I think Sophie would have returned to medicine eventually. It seems to be such a part of her existence and Anna and she are close and that relationship would make it hard for her to stay away from medicine. I do think the shipwreck forced her to step in as a physician and temporarily out of her role as a grieving widow.

I agree with most here - Sophie would have come back to her profession in time. She was, after all, still experiencing a great loss, and was probably in shock following all she had to cope with. The survivors initially and the murder investigation once she returned home - as well as her relationship with Anna and their shared profession- brought her back to a life she was meant to live for sure.

It is hard for me to add to this because I agree with all of the above answers. Sophie is a doctor and she would have discovered on her own that it is something she wanted to do. This situation, however, helped along her choice. It was also good that she could put her mind to something else.

Naturally, Sophie would have returned to Medicine and devised her plans for a school . She was newly widowed and probably would have taken more time grieving, but surrounded as she is by other women such as Anna and Elise in the profession and Aunt who is no nonsense and has overcome loss to make a life for herself, she would not have wallowed. The shipwreck just happened to push her back into life more quickly than might have been the case without the stimulus

In any turn of events, Sophie would return to medicine. Like Anna and all the way back to Elizabeth and Curiosity, medicine is part of the fiber of Sophie's being!

I think that the shipwreck survivors and the case with Catherine were the nudge she needed to get back to her profession. I think that she would have been bored living alone in the house (without Cap) and that medicine gave her a reason for being. It was truly a part of the fiber of her person and gave her life meaning.