A Voice in the Wind

Compare Hadassah’s concept of honor with Atretes’. How does she begin to win him over in the end? How would their relationship have been different if Atretes had remained wealthy and assimilated?

Rivers claims that any similarities between Rome and contemporary society were unintentional, yet those parallels are evident. What are some of those similarities?

Roman society was a patriarchy. What are some examples of female subjugation in the novel? What is implied by making the only strong feminist character—Calabah—a villain?

Freedom is a powerful theme in the novel. How do the characters—specifically Hadassah, Atretes, and Marcus—define freedom for themselves and others?

Julia is a complex character. She can be petty, demanding, and immature, but she also yearns for the freedom of a man. Are her negative qualities a natural result of her oppression, or is she simply a spoiled individual as far as the narrative is concerned?

Explain Hadassah’s inner conflict. How does she resolve it?

Hadassah is represented as a Christlike figure. What are some examples of this? How is she similar in her actions to Jesus?

Historians point to a host of factors that contributed to Rome’s decline, including economic problems, invasion from outside forces, and overspending on the military, among others. What is the primary cause of the fall of Rome from the narrative’s perspective?