The Making of a Prig

"The Making of a Prig" by Evelyn Sharp is a tale from the late 1800s that follows Katharine, the daughter of a Rector, as she pushes against the rules and expectations of her life. She struggles with what's considered proper, tries to become her own person, and figures out her relationships with her father and her Aunt Esther. They have very different ideas about what's right and how to show feelings. At the beginning of the story, Katharine and her Aunt Esther disagree about the Rector always being late for supper, which shows that Katharine has a rebellious side. As she starts to wonder about the limits placed on her by society, especially because she is a girl, her frustration begins to become clear. The story leads to a deeper look at what drives people when a new character, Paul Wilton, shows up hurt and gains the attention of both Katharine and her Aunt Esther.