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Cover of Come and Find Me

Come and Find Me

Written by Elizabeth Robins

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CaliforniaAlaskaGold mines and mining

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About this book

"Come and Find Me" by Elizabeth Robins is a novel written in the early 20th century. The story begins in a modest family setting, focusing on Nathaniel Mar, who works for the Palmas Valley Bank in California. It captures the challenges of domestic life, with the bustling chaos of a home filled with children and the burdens of financial stress that overshadow Mar's ambitions. The opening of the novel introduces Nathaniel Mar amidst a backdrop of familial duties and interpersonal dynamics as he works through financial crises in his dimly lit dining room. His wife, Mrs. Mar, juggles the chaos of raising their children while dealing with a household that seems perpetually in disrepair. The chapter sets a tone of melancholy and resignation, illustrating Mar's weariness and the struggles he faces while balancing his work and family life, hinting at deeper themes of ambition, unfulfilled dreams, and the impact of domestic responsibilities on personal aspirations.

Reading guide

Themes, characters and key ideas in Come and Find Me, written by Chaptra AI.

  • about 8 hours
  • intermediate
  • melancholy
  • resigned
  • realistic

Elizabeth Robins's early 20th-century novel, "Come and Find Me," opens with Nathaniel Mar, an employee of Palmas Valley Bank in California, grappling with the demanding realities of domestic life. The narrative immediately immerses the reader in the chaotic, financially strained household of the Mar family, where Nathaniel's ambitions are overshadowed by the burdens of raising children and managing perpetual disrepair. This initial setting establishes a profound tone of melancholy and resignation, highlighting Mar's weariness as he endeavors to balance his work and family obligations, ultimately hinting at deeper explorations of unfulfilled aspirations and the profound impact of domestic responsibilities on personal goals.

Key themes

Ambition vs. Domesticity
This theme explores the profound conflict between an individual's personal aspirations and the demanding realities of family life and domestic responsibilities. It delves into how the daily necessities of raising children and maintaining a household can overshadow and even extinguish personal dreams, leading to feelings of unfulfillment.
Financial Strain and Social Class
This theme examines the pervasive and debilitating impact of economic hardship on family life, individual well-being, and social standing. It highlights how financial stress can dictate daily existence, influence choices, and contribute to a sense of weariness and despair.
Unfulfilled Dreams and Resignation
This theme delves into the melancholic acceptance of a life that falls short of earlier aspirations, often brought about by circumstances beyond one's control. It explores the emotional landscape of weariness and the quiet surrender to a perceived destiny, where personal dreams are deferred or abandoned.

Worth discussing

How does the novel's opening establish the central conflict between personal ambition and domestic responsibility?

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