In The River Between Us, two characters have the gift. You know, second sight, a sixth sense, prophecy, visions, seeing—whatever we call it, it means they can see the future and the past. Cass and Calinda keep the other characters on their toes by calling the future before it happens. There's a difference, though, in how their families regard this gift, and thus, how they view themselves.
The Pruitts consider Cass's gift itself to be a form of madness, rather than thinking that perhaps the gift is driving her mad. And so, they try to hide it. As a result, Cass withers away until she meets Calinda, whose family regards her abilities as an enviable gift. Cass blooms under Calinda's tutelage, but she withers again when Calinda leaves, unable to bear her gift on her own.
Questions About Versions of Reality
- What accounts for the differences in how Cass' and Calinda's families view their psychic abilities?
- Would you want to live with someone who could see the future? Why or why not?
- How do Cass' and Calinda's prophecies affect other characters' actions? What does this reveal about other characters? How about Cass and Calinda?
- Why doesn't Mama reveal her own gifts in order to help Cass?
Chew on This
Cass' and Calinda's visions create the future they foretell because people act on them.
Had Mama acknowledged her own abilities earlier, she might have helped Cass endure her visions.