Question #5: The Major

[Lauren]

Throughout the novel, Ms. Simonson refers to the main character as the Major. How does this shape the reader’s relationship with the character, and how would it differ if she used a different moniker?

[Carol]

This is something I thought about and watched for all through the book. This man had the respect from his position first of all. He kept "the Major" as a nickname, I'm sure as respect from his friends, gentlemen and those in the village where they lived. He seemed to command a certain amount of respect even though he was really quite a gentle man. That was one of the most endearing parts to me. The relationship he had with his son is not a surprise, when you see how fathers and sons often have conflict when there can be possible expectations from a father to their children. His son, then takes a lot of advantage of his father which really bugged me in the book. I didn't feel he was a genuine person in any way, but everything about the Major said he was the Real Deal. I fell in love with him too!!!

[Ashley]

This is a great question, Lauren. I sort of felt like Simonson used "Major" throughout in a rather tongue-in-cheek sort of way. She sets up a formal relationship between the reader and the Major through use of the title, but it's totally ironic because we're so solidly within the Major's point of view. We know his every thought, so the forced distance of a formal title is, in my view, very, very amusing.