Weyward
Emilia Hart

• In the epigraph, there is a note referring to the change in wording in more recent adaptations of Macbeth from “weyward” to “weird.” How does this reflect societal attitudes towards women? How does this footnote set the tone for the rest of the story?

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• The descriptions and persona of each character’s clothing is detailed throughout the novel, particularly in how clothing can be seen as either freeing or constricting. What may the colors, textures, and styles of clothing say about the characters themselves and how they view their situations?
   

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• The saying, “The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree,” refers to the similarities we share to our parents and ancestors that, at times, may seem inescapable and bound to have history repeat itself. How is each woman alike from the one before her and how does that shape how she views her own identity and characteristics?

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• There is a common theme throughout the story that the ideas, hobbies, and curiosity of women is an inherent danger and threat to the power the men in this novel yield. Due to this pressure, how does their own rejection of their curiosities affect the women in Weyward?

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• On page 16, Altha remarks that “I looked at the ground, to avoid the stares of the villagers. I felt their eyes on my body as if they were hands.” During the witch trials throughout England and the United States, many were accused by their own peers of practicing witchcraft. How does this idea of a herd society promote the action of inaction of a bystander in this novel? Is this message seen in either of the other two narratives?

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• Kate has held onto a broach depicting a bee that she retrieved from her father. What may the bee symbolize as it relates to femininity? Similarly, a crow has been present in all three narratives. What may this bird represent to each of the three women? Do you believe it is the same crow?

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• Out of the three narratives, only Altha’s storyline is told in first person narration whereas Kate and Violet’s chapters are written in third person. Why might the author have chosen this format for Altha? What does it add to the story and how does it compare to reading the experiences of Kate and Violet?

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• How do the three perspectives work to build off one another as the story progresses? How does the movement between these perspectives affect the reading experience, pacing, and momentum of the story. Are there any benefits or drawbacks of this structure? Is there one storyline you are gravitating to more? Why might that be?

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• What is the significance of Elizabeth’s absence in the novel, and what do you make of the choice the author made to limit the portrayal of her narrative?

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• The male characters in the novel, including Simon, Rupert, Frederick, and John Milburn, struggle with the concept of female empowerment and often seek to establish dominance over the women in their lives. In contrast, characters like Graham, Henry, and Adam Bainbridge exhibit different attitudes towards women and gender dynamics. What do these contrasting attitudes towards women reveal about societal attitudes towards gender and power?

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• During the novel, Kate, Violet, and Grace all became pregnant as a result of abusive relationships. How does each woman approach their pregnancy, and how do their perspectives change over time? How do the women’s relationships with motherhood reflect the societal expectations and pressures placed on women during their timelines?​

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• Throughout the book, there are elements of magical realism, particularly in the way it portrays the Weyward women’s abilities. What do you think the author’s intention was in incorporating this aspect of fantasy into the story, and how does it contribute to the book’s overall themes and message?​

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• One of the central themes of the novel is the idea of returning to a natural, wild state of being, and the transformative power of the natural world. How does this theme manifest throughout the novel, and what does it mean to the characters to embrace their inner wildness? How does this idea intersect with broader cultural conversations around nature, sustainability, and our relationship to the environment? How can we, as readers, apply these lessons to our own lives and relationship with nature?