Coming home Quote by Barbara Kyle
““Isabel Valverde was coming home. The brief, terrible letter from her brother had brought her across five thousand miles of ocean, from the New World to the Old, and during the long voyage she thought she had prepared herself for the worst. But now that London lay just beyond the next bend of the River Thames, she dreaded what awaited her. The not knowing – that was the hardest. Would she find her mother still a prisoner awaiting execution? Horrifying though that was, Isabel could at least hope to see her one last time. Or had her mother already been hanged?””
About This Quote
Isabel fears the unknown fate of her mother, confronting the dread of possible execution or death.
In simple terms: She is terrified of not knowing her mother’s fate.
Key Takeaway
Seek information to reduce fear.
Themes
fear
uncertainty
family
war
Mood
tense
hopeful
Type
narrative
dramatic
When to use this quote
- family separation
- war refugees
- historical conflict
Key Concepts
psychological trauma
anticipation
Questions to Reflect On
- What would you do if you learned the truth?
- How can hope sustain you in uncertainty?
A Different Perspective
The unknown can sometimes be less terrifying than imagined horrors.
