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1. “The lass became Hannah’s shadow, attending the births, nursing the sick, tending the injured and laying out the dead.” Maggie Duncan was trained in midwifery from a very young age. In what ways does Maggie’s occupation as a midwife add to the development of her character and to the telling of the story?
2. What are some of the political and social forces that draw Maggie Duncan and Tom Roberts together? What drives them apart?
3. The Jacobite Rebellion of 1746, the French and Indian War, and Pontiac’s Uprising are three of the wars mentioned during the course of this story. Have a discussion on the impact of war as a catalyst by comparing war’s affect on the childhood experiences of Seth Martin, Maggie Duncan, Simon Peavey and Mary Bledsoe.
4. MIDWIFE OF THE BLUE RIDGE is set during a time when the colonies were expanding into Native American territory. In what ways, positive and negative, does the resultant culture clash manifest itself? Three of the characters have direct and prolonged exposure to Native American culture. How does Tom’s attitude toward Native Americans differ from Simon’s? From Maggie’s?
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