How does Ester's trip down the Thame's change her perspective of England in the novel, The Weight of Ink?

Ester experiences a strong connection to the countryside on a trip down the Thames River with John, Thomas, and Mary. It provides her with an entirely new perspective of England, as she had previously never been outside the city. Ester associates its lush greenery and wildness with the endurance of life separate from plague-struck London and the city’s impure environment. Ester’s afternoon in the country strengthens her love for John, who wishes her to see the true England he identifies with. Ester’s narrative ends in the countryside, where she experiences freedom and pleasure at the river with Alvaro.