The plot revolves around a woman named Emily as she grows from a young girl into an old woman. The themes that are highlighted include women against men, society and women in a family.

Emily was a mother who by a series of schemes rose from a lowly second wife to the family matriarch. So Emily who knew in such a society, she would definitely be below a man in terms of status, began to take care of every need. A notable incident would be when she chose and took care of the schooling arrangements and another clear one is where she makes every single decision for her children. She does not give a choice and forces Richard to give up taking care of horses to study in a university which in the end results in him committing suicide. This can be seen as a sign of escape...