The Morgesons: A Novel

by Elizabeth Stoddard

"The Morgesons: A Novel" by Elizabeth Stoddard is a novel published in 1862. This female bildungsroman follows Cassandra Morgeson's quest for self-definition in mid-nineteenth-century New England. Through journeys from her isolated hometown to various cities, she confronts religious oppression, social constraints, and forbidden desire. A passionate affair, a tragic accident, and complex relationships shape her development. Ultimately, Cassandra must navigate marriage, family obligations, and societal expectations while pursuing spiritual, sexual, and economic independence in a world determined to confine her.