The Rising Tide

"The Rising Tide" by Margaret Wade Campbell Deland is a story set around the Payton family and their conflicting views. The story looks into topics like family responsibility, what society expects, and how women's roles are changing, all through the experiences of mother, Mrs. Payton, and daughter, Frederica. The story starts on Payton Street, a place that used to be fancy but is now getting worse, just like the family's own problems with change. Mrs. Payton cares a lot about her family but can be strict, dealing with her son Mortimore's problems while also trying to understand her daughter Frederica's rebellious attitude. When Frederica thinks about getting a job and not following traditional roles for women, it causes problems between her desire to be free and her mother's ideas. A surprise visit from a family friend leads to talks about Frederica's actions, suggesting that big problems are coming for the Payton family about what they owe each other, what they feel, and how much freedom they should have.