The Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey took place in Alaska during the 1920s. Initially, life in Alaska was strenuous for Jack and Mabel because of the harsh weather conditions and the cold lifeless days. Loneliness crashed down on them once the realization of how isolated living in the homestead is. Only through help of one another could Jack and Mabel survive in Alaska. Whether it is Jack Mabel depending on each other or friends they had made, most actions require the help of other characters in order to accomplish something. When a little girl named Faina suddenly appears seemingly out of nowhere in the Alaskan wilderness their lives change forever. Due to the of the harsh Alaskan environment Jack, Mabel, and Faina need to depend on each other to
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Instead, it had just had been a bird that died once captured. Although she was a young girl, this enhances Mabel’s characterization and gives an insight of her personal perspective of life. When Mabel was observing a snowflakes intricate details she thought to herself, “How did such force and beauty come to be in something so small and fleeting and unknowable? You did not have to understand miracles to believe in them, and in fact, Mabel had come to suspect the opposite.” (Pg. 15) Although Mabel was talking about the mystery of each individual snowflake, this relates to the Snow Child and the enigma that came along with her. Through Mabel believing the inexplicable, this allowed her to have faith that there was real living child in the wilderness, not an illusion. Once Faina entered their lives, Mabel’s maternal instincts automatically came into play once she saw the child out there alone in the snow seemingly parentless. When Mabel asked her friend, Esther if she’s ever seen the girl she disregarded her. She assumed Mabel had cabin fever from being out in Alaska for too long alone. Loneliness and isolation contributed to Mabel's internal struggles. In the beginning of the novel, Mabel was near committing suicide because she could not handle her internal struggle of her miscarriage. Mabel relies on Faina to be the child she never had and sees her as her own daughter. By spending time with Faina, instead of
Instead, it had just had been a bird that died once captured. Although she was a young girl, this enhances Mabel’s characterization and gives an insight of her personal perspective of life. When Mabel was observing a snowflakes intricate details she thought to herself, “How did such force and beauty come to be in something so small and fleeting and unknowable? You did not have to understand miracles to believe in them, and in fact, Mabel had come to suspect the opposite.” (Pg. 15) Although Mabel was talking about the mystery of each individual snowflake, this relates to the Snow Child and the enigma that came along with her. Through Mabel believing the inexplicable, this allowed her to have faith that there was real living child in the wilderness, not an illusion. Once Faina entered their lives, Mabel’s maternal instincts automatically came into play once she saw the child out there alone in the snow seemingly parentless. When Mabel asked her friend, Esther if she’s ever seen the girl she disregarded her. She assumed Mabel had cabin fever from being out in Alaska for too long alone. Loneliness and isolation contributed to Mabel's internal struggles. In the beginning of the novel, Mabel was near committing suicide because she could not handle her internal struggle of her miscarriage. Mabel relies on Faina to be the child she never had and sees her as her own daughter. By spending time with Faina, instead of