North Woods

As suggested by the novel's title, the north woods are the primary backdrop for the entirety of the narrative. Although North Woods spans three centuries, the north woods remain throughout. Specifically, the north woods refer to a plot of forested land in western Massachusetts. In Chapter 1, two young lovers flee their colony and settle in this location. From then on, the location becomes a home to countless inhabitants, human, plant, and animal.

For some of the characters, the north woods offer a refuge and a retreat. The young couple and unnamed young mother in Chapter 1, for example, see the woods as a haven after they depart their homes and families. Charles Osgood and William Teale similarly take comfort in this forested environment. For other characters like Alice Osgood, Helen, and Robert's doctor, the north woods are eerie and unsettling. The woods are indeed infused with the spirits...