Love

In her narrative, The Davenports, Marquis thematically examines love. In Chapter 15, the author utilizes Amy-Rose and John’s first kiss to suggest that love can overcome societal divides. When Amy-Rose and John leave the garden, she feels saddened that the “moment she had wished and wished for, after so long, [is] now passed” (119). However, their intimacy is not confined to physical touch; “she also [feels] closer to him, having shared her story, and he having revealed some of himself with her” (119). While the couple comes from divergent backgrounds, Amy-Rose is a maid and John is the heir to a lucrative business, they connect through sharing. Marquis suggests that empathy can develop love and understanding. If the couple focused on their differences, they would not be able to develop a relationship beyond physical attraction.

In Chapter 22, the author continues her thematic examination of love when Mr. Barton...