A History Of Wild Places

Part 3 of the novel is by far the longest section, but it does not include extensive action for the three protagonists. While significant community events occur, Calla, Theo, and Bee are primarily occupied with gathering clues, trying to recall their real memories, and grappling with their internal character struggles. They make significant progress and develop as characters while unraveling the mystery, but they do not take much direct action. By contrast, Part 4 involves all three characters moving rapidly and actively toward the climax. For Calla and Theo, this involves their escape from Pastoral; for Bee, her confrontation with Levi. Part 3 concludes with the final decision that the group will leave Pastoral, and Part 4 opens with the actions each character takes to enact their plan. In terms of narrative structure, Part 3 concludes with one of the novel’s primary twists about the main characters’ identities. Importantly, the chapter titles in Part 4 do not shift to “Maggie” and “Travis,” but remain as “Calla” and “Theo.” Thus, Ernshaw suggests that although the characters have learned their real identities, they have not yet processed what that means or the extent to which they identify with the past versions of themselves.

Part 4 begins with the novel’s other primary twist: The “rot” is not real, and Levi has been hypnotizing them. Both details are catalysts that quicken the narrative’s pace. This pacing enables the narrative structure to mirror the characters’ experiences. While Calla, Theo, and Bee have been fairly stagnant within Pastoral for much of the narrative, the reveal of the new information spurs them into action. Deceit has kept them docile, and without its influence, they can move quickly. This is symbolized in Bee regaining her sight; while her understanding and literal sight were clouded through Levi’s manipulation, she can finally see clearly enough to make her own choices. With this, Bee’s character arc reaches its climax when she confronts and stabs Levi. Ernshaw connects their confrontation with the theme of The Power and Darkness of Fairy Tales through Bee’s realization that he is “a monster” and the thing they should have feared all along. Part 4 ends with Bee’s triumph over Levi and provides an emphatic conclusion to the novel’s rising action and climax. The fact that the narrative does not include a description of Calla and Theo progressing through the forest to the gas station contributes to the narrative effect of their departure from Pastoral. Like most of the characters, the reader is not able to immediately follow them out of the community.