East Lynne

Consider Isabel’s unhappiness as a wife and mother. Does the novel suggest she is unhappy primarily because she finds these roles unfulfilling or because Cornelia’s presence prevents her from fully occupying these roles? What does this say about the novel’s attitude toward gender roles?

How does Wood balance foreshadowing and suspense in the first half of the novel? Why does Wood point out specific moments where Isabel’s fate could have unfolded differently if she had taken a specific action (such as confiding her unhappiness to her husband)?

Compare Francis Levinson’s villainous use of a pseudonym to the disguises adopted by characters like Richard and Isabel. What distinguishes “good” disguises from “bad” ones?

How does Wood use the subplot about the murder of Hallijohn and the false accusation against Richard to develop themes of guilt, innocence, and deception? Why is his father (a judge) convinced of his guilt, and what role do legal mechanisms of “proving” guilt or innocence play in the novel?

How does Afy Hallijohn function as a foil to Lady Isabel? What social proprieties does Afy breach, and what is her attitude toward these choices? How do Afy and Isabel’s class positions give them more or less freedom?

How does Wood characterize Isabel’s relationship with her children during her time as their governess? How does this portrayal reflect cultural anxieties around governesses?

Discuss the significance of the work’s title. What role does setting play in the novel?

Wood incorporates significant amounts of Christian philosophy and morality into her novel, which reflects the cultural context of Victorian Britain. Why does she do so, and how does this framing help to make a controversial plotline palatable? Do any aspects of the novel offer a subversive perspective despite the framing of Christian morality?