Should Effie trust in Lewis more and accept his help, or would that undermine her own strength? Are you frustrated by her self-reliance, or do you feel sympathetic toward her?
Effie’s childhood made her self-reliant. With a father who was gone so much she became the primary caregiver. That made her tend to be inflexible in her trust which is why the Lewis character and a sense of romance gave Eddie the potential to bend a bit more. At the same time given the bush environment of her youth Effie had to be stronger than probably someone living in an urban environment.
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Effie should probably rely on Lewis more, but I think it’s true to her character that she didn’t. Being raised in the bush made Effie fiercely independent; that who she was. It also somewhat mirrored Anya’s character that she couldn’t accept help from the outside.
I do wish she had counted on and trusted Lewis more. Being self reliant can help in many situations but this was a lot for her to handle on her own.
Several times Effie seemed unsure about Lewis; his interest, intentions and professional experiences. She had to be the lead even when it meant going back in the bush alone. As a reader, though, I knew Lewis would anticipate and be there for her.
I would have liked Effie to trust in Lewis more. I saw him as reliable and honest. But I can also understand why she did not. It seemed that she had been through so much and had to rely only on herself so much of the time.
I think her refusal to accept help was stubbornness, not self-reliance. As a police officer, she should know that one person can’t do everything alone. You often need a partner, or backup.
I totally agree with your take, @Nathan_G. It was an immature reaction.
I think in time Effie would mellow towards Lewis. When younger she was wanting Lewis but he refused due to her young age, then later because of his marriage. They just had obstacles in their way. But now that they are older and Lewis’ marriage is over, and Effie is back, they have a clear path to begin again.
She should trust Lewis more. He’s demonstrated his worthiness. Effie is too wrapped up in her own ability.
I think that with Effie’s childhood being flawed, she would be prone to trust issues. I give her a pass. I would have done things differently, but that’s what makes this an interesting story.
She should probably rely on Lewis more but due to her upbringing, she was a very self reliant person and isn’t going to change.