1. Maggie says of the imprisoned black man, "he was something in a trap and he couldn't get out, and he hated the people who'd trapped him, but at the same time he'd do anything on earth they wanted him to, just so they didn't punish him. And I recognized that, I knew what he was feeling, I understood that." What does she mean? What does her initial empathy for the black man lead her to conclude about her own life? How does she succeed in getting out of the "trap" for herself?

2. What role does Aiken play in Maggie's life? How does Maggie's impression of Aiken change through the course of the novel? What are the different types of friendships Maggie has with other women? Which proves to be the most instrumental in her life, and why?