In light of the recent abuse scandals in the Catholic Church, how might McCullough have reimagined the character of Ralph? How did your awareness of these scandals impact your expectations of the book?

Consider the fact that all of the major male characters die before the book’s end, while all of the female characters survive. What message is the author sending with these choices? Support your response with text.

Is true love realized only with the acceptance of pain? Provide three examples from the text to support your answer.