Helga Crane

To me, the character Helga Crane is a refreshing change from the other female protagonists we have examined in class so far.  My initial impression of her was that she seems to represent a stronger female figure than the previous female protagonists we have looked at.  When Helga realizes her unhappiness at Naxos and her disapproval with the ideals and values it upholds, she takes a proactive approach and decides to leave.  I was relieved when she left, knowing that I wouldn't have to read about her whining about her unhappiness, which is a trend that has appeared in our other works.  The books we have read already, like The House of Mirth for instance, display unhappy women in oppressive states, but the women don't often take charge enough to do anything about it.  This is what I like so far about about Helga; she leavers her unhappy situation, looks for work in Chicago, and then seizes an opportunity to go to New York.  This book is already fast-paced and Helga is actually doing something with her life.  However, we'll see where the rest of the book goes, and my opinion of her may change. . .