this signal of persistence and leadership leads the readers into a deeper connection to Mattie’s character, because they can relate to her emotions and actions more and more during the story. This evidence concludes that Mattie’s character is described as more and more Independent throughout the book. she is confident that she doesn't need a husband to run her life and business, and she bravely stands up to her mother when she tries to curl her hair. you don’t have one.” the author includes this so that readers can see that Mattie doesn't want or need the same treatments that most woman expected in her time. she says, “I like straight hair, and I don’t need a husband to run the coffeehouse, Mother. an example of Characterization occurs when Mattie doesn’t let her mother tell her how to act like a woman. The second element of literature that helps us understand Mattie’s struggle against gender norms through a disastrous epidemic is Characterization. It is crucial that readers understand what Mattie went through to have the strength and knowledge to grow into a helpful citizen and to be who she chooses to be to be, not what society tells her to be. Halse-Anderson is implying that un Mattie’s time, women are seen as sexual objects, and they are judged on their appearance. the author describes Mattie’s bitterness towards the dress when she says “by the time I was tightened, pinned, and locked into my clothing, I could feel my stomach rubbing against my backbone.” (fever, pg 44.) The author includes this so that readers can imagine being required to wear clothing that tightens your body into looking more attractive. an example of Imagery occurs when Mattie is forced to uncomfortable clothing. The first element of literature that helps us apprehend female roles and How Matilda defies them is Imagery. By analyzing these elements of literature, we can compare Matilda’s journey to current events that affect our world today, like so many factors afflicted her’s. Halse Anderson utilizes many elements of literature including characterization, plot, and imagery to help the reader understand how Matilda struggles to grow up as a woman in a city influenced by the roles she must play, from wearing painful clothing to being compared to racehorses.

She struggles to survive as everything she loved is demolished by a terrible epidemic. Matilda Cook is a young woman growing up in her family’s coffeehouse.

The whole city turns frantic and hectic with the pestilence, and only the strongest can make it through alive. The book Fever 1793 by Laurie Halse Anderson is about a yellow fever epidemic in Philadelphia, 1793.

Fever 1793 author