The Address

Early on, Sara believes that America is a more “forgiving” place than England, where class distinctions are less rigid and limiting. Based on the details of her life, is she correct? Why or why not?

How does Davis’s choice to tell Sara’s and Bailey’s stories simultaneously affect the understanding of each woman’s experiences?

The actions of others disempower Sara and Bailey, but they avoid identifying themselves as victims. How does each character take control of her life and her choices?

Sara ultimately decides that she cannot trust anyone because people are too deceptive. How does the text support this conclusion? Analyze at least three examples to support your response.

Sara, Minnie, and Daisy have similar stories despite their different origins and parentage. What factors link the women? What does this reveal about the intersection between gender and class?

While the past may be inescapable, it is also partially unknowable. For example, Bailey accepts that she will never know why Sara killed Theo, and few of the hardships Sara and Minnie survived are known. What does the author suggest about this paradoxical relationship between learning from the past and not knowing the past?

How does Davis approach temporality in the novel?

What is the role of irony in the story? How does it influence the novel’s themes?