What does this novel teach us about 19th-century America? How was life different for women then than it is today?

Charlotte believes that voting in disguise as Charles Parkhurst will make a strong point when her true gender is finally revealed. What do you think? Did casting her vote under a false name ultimately make a point or a difference? Why or why not?

Find and analyze three examples of freedom in the novel. What kinds of freedom do people experience? Does freedom mean the same thing to everyone? How does the novel’s title impact our understanding of freedom?