Ada’s coming-of-age story depicts a journey different from Inman’s in that it is neither physical or too spiritual. On her journey, Ada undermines her past life of ease and education by transforming into someone with an appreciation for nature and a robust life of physical work. While Inman’s journey triggers his internal incentive of wanting to just go home, Ada must withstand external pressures. One of these influences is taken in the configuration of a nature orientated women named, Ruby, who becomes Ada’s teacher and dear friend. Frazier references Henry David Thoreau's work entitled Walden, in order to connect Thoreau’s change to Ada’s lifestyle conversion. Like Thoreau, Ada is happier without the materialistic aspects of life, and discovers her true values while connecting with nature.…show more content… Depictions of these old fashioned methods of labor are ample throughout the novel, thus showing that Frazier devoted much time to research what he was writing about. Lastly, Ada’s character develops, and she reflects “Needing and getting don’t seem likely to match up any time soon... What needs doing is mine to do” (305). These words summarize the gloomy atmosphere Frazier fuses in with the novel, while also portraying Ada’s development into a strong friend and worker. Ada’s character is unlike the historical stereotype of women, for Frazier develops her into a strong, self reliant woman who lives off the land. Her connection with the land and labor are historically believable; however, her empowering female role is somewhat unlike many other women of the era, for women had few rights. Frazier carefully crafts Ada into a changing character, while demonstrating profound research on the
