Possession : $b a novel

"Possession: A Novel" by Louis Bromfield is an early 20th century story that starts by presenting us with complicated family connections and gets ready to deeply examine themes of ambition, figuring out who you are, and problems passed down through generations within a single family's story. The main character, Ellen Tolliver, is right in the middle of these conflicts, mixing a strong need to do well in art with the demands of her family. At the beginning, the novel clearly shows the characters living in the Tolliver house, especially focusing on elderly Grandpa Tolliver, who is weighed down by feeling like things are pointless, and Ellen, his granddaughter, who is struggling with her own feelings. As the story goes on, we see Ellen's tricky interactions with her family, especially her difficult relationship with her mother, Hattie. At the same time, the story hints at Ellen's growing artistic goals while dealing with society's limits, putting her on a path that is both very personal and relatable to everyone, dealing with the timeless fight between wanting to achieve something and family duties. Other characters, like the charming cousin Lily and the practical music teacher Miss Ogilvie, add more to Ellen’s search for who she is and her purpose, making readers interested in her story from the start.