1. A very special Southern society plays an important role in the evolution of Ella Dubose’s life. How is Ella both a heroine and victim of that society --- as a young lady and elderly woman --- in all its different ethical and moral manifestations?

2. Much as she’s portrayed as an old-fashioned Southern lady caught up in the clutches of her past, in what ways might Ella be construed as a modern woman?

3. Ella’s younger son, Earl Jr., and her daughter, Olivia, do not come across as very sympathetic characters. Do they have any redeeming qualities, and if so, what are they?

4. Nobody can doubt that Ella’s and Goldie’s relationship is highly unusual and complex. Exactly what role does Goldie play in Ella’s life and the psychological development of the narrative? Does Ella truly believe herself to be superior to Goldie, and is Goldie truly subservient to her domineering mistress?

5. Is Ella immoral --- both as a young, carefree girl and a mature married lady? In what ways?

6. Was Ella truly in love with Jonathan, or has she always been in love mainly with an idea --- or a fantasy? Likewise, did she ever really love her husband, Big Earl?

7. Before --- and even after --- his traumatic awakening about his sexual identity, were Jonathan’s emotions over Ella ever genuine? Is it realistic to believe that he was ever really attracted to her sexually?

8. What strength does Ella possibly gain for her lifelong obsession with Jonathan’s memory and the past?

9. What are the true reasons for Ella’s special bond with her gay son, Tyler?

10. what ways does Tyler stand apart from the other characters in this novel, even while serving as a motivation for much of the action?

11. What is most important to Ella: romance and passion, marriage, or motherhood? Could this eccentric lady have survived without any one of these factors?

12. In what ways is Ella’s relationship with Edmund at once totally different and quite similar to those with Jonathan and Big Earl? Has there been any development in her emotional makeup over the decades?

13. Edmund purports to understand Ella, and the reader suspects that, in a short period of time, he may indeed have plumbed the depths in her confused soul that have never been explored. If so, how does he accomplish this?

14. Determined as Ella is to finally reveal hidden truths to Tyler about the past and his identity, she ultimately decides that his precarious welfare is more important than her need to resolve an overwhelming ethical dilemma. Is she right or wrong in her decision?

15. Can Ella be deemed a loving, responsible wife and mother?

16. Nothing ever seems to be as important to Ella as her pocketbook. What might the pocketbook be said to symbolize in this novel?