Year of Wonders Reader's Response #7

Wide Green Prison
        In this chapter, Anna describes the fleeing of the Bradford's entire staff, which they fired without any notice. Maggie Cantwell, the Bradford's cook, showed up to Anna's door not for shelter because her house was known as one of the Plague cottages, but instead for help in moving all of her possessions from the Bradford Hall. It really disgusts me that the Colonel not only is putting the life of other people outside the village at risk, but that he is also leaving many people unemployed and without a roof over their head in the village that he leaves behind. When Mr. Mompellion arrives in the middle of the frenzied moving scene, he attempts one more time to get the Bradfords to stay behind, claiming that a real man would stay behind for the benefit of everyone. Colonel Bradford only replies, "...if I desired to succor the afflicted I would have joined you in Holy Orders" (Brooks, 111). Man, this guy really is the Regina George of the 17th century. The ultimate wealthy, rude, and selfish mean girl of the town. What surprised me most was how the villagers reacted when the Bradfords left. Instead of shaming them for leaving during this time of peril, men "doffed their caps" and women "curtsied" (Brooks, 114). Why are the Bradfords viewed differently because they happen to have more money? They can just as easily carry the "seeds" of the plague as anybody else. This kind of reminds me of that scene in Titanic when the upper-class are allowed to get onto the lifeboats first and did not fill up the maximum capacity of the boat to be more comfortable. Why should the wealthy obtain special privileges at the expense of the lives of others?
        Later that day, Elinor Mompellion and Anna help Mary Daniel give birth, since the two midwives of the village, Mem and Anys Gowdie, were dead. Anna is extremely scared because she witnessed her own mother die while giving birth when she was young, and although she helps sheep in labor, she does not feel she is capable of being a midwife to a woman. Despite her worries, Anna delivers the baby and all goes well. The people there were all joyful and "celebrated a life" during that "season of death" (Brooks, 123). However, Anna feels depressed because while Mary had her newborn son, she doesn't have her own sons to go home to anymore. Because of this, she takes the phial of poppy that Mrs. Mompellion had.
        I understand Anna's emotions, it must be so difficult to see someone so happy when you've lost so much.