Manslaughter

"Manslaughter" by Alice Duer Miller is a story set in a time of social constraints that follows Lydia Thorne, a determined young woman, as she navigates her relationships with her guardian, Miss Bennett, and people like Bobby Dorset and Dan O'Bannon. The story opens by explaining Lydia's interactions with others as she struggles to be herself in a world filled with expectations. Beginning with a childhood memory of a fight between her and her father, the writer shows us how tough Lydia is. The story switches to the present to explain the tension between Lydia and Miss Bennett as they have very different views on what society expects and how to be moral. As Lydia starts to interact with Bobby and Eleanor, the reader will see her starting to fall in love, which makes her interactions in society even more complicated. The story suggests that it will address the issues of personal freedom and the issues that arise when you try to be yourself in a world of expectations and rules, setting the stage for an in-depth look at these characters.