A sense of occasion

In this month’s story, Flower Hunters by Lauren Groff, we’re going to look at how the unnamed protagonist relates to other characters in the story. The story is full of a sense of sadness, largely due to the main character’s failings in the way she relates to others. As always you’ll get the most out of this masterclass if you read the story for yourself: http://writ.rs/flowerhunters.

Although the main character is married with two children, the relationships that seem most important to her are not with her family. They are with her friend Meg, and with a long-dead naturalist called William Bartram.

Let’s look at her relationship with Meg first. We learn that until recently Meg was the protagonist’s best friend, but recently Meg has ‘broken up’ with her. Notice how the language used as she describes her heart being ripped apart and claims she is ‘suffocating with sadness’ is very similar to what might be used to describe