The premise of the novel (Year of Wonder) could be seen as the antithesis of a journey as the villagers voluntarily agree to undertake a quarantine, meaning they cannot literally go nowhere. How does this text represent a journey? Although the characters in Year of Wonders are unable to undertake a physical journey due to their actions, their circumstances push them to undertake many spiritual, mental, and emotional journeys over the course of the novel. Anna Frith, for example, is forced during the plague year to overcome the deaths of her children and family and to take on many new roles that she would not otherwise have had. The text also accompanies the reader on an imaginative journey. With characters showing human failures and the setting during a disaster, the text makes the reader reflect on how they would react in similar conditions by putting themselves into the minds of the characters. Finally, the text can also be seen as a representation of the spiritual and emotional journeys of the other characters in the novel, as they struggle in faith and the loss of their loved ones. The novel follows Anna Frith, a woman living during the great plague. of London in 1666. Her village of Eyam decides to quarantine itself to prevent further spread of the disease, and as more and more of the villagers succumb, she must take on numerous roles and acquire skills she would otherwise never have developed. In this way she learns more about herself, what she is capable of and goes on an emotional journey. For example, when a young orphan is threatened with losing her right, her only source of income, unless she can get a plate full of lead, Anna takes it upon herself to help her. This shows both Anna's emotional change from... middle of paper... and will change as a result of the plague year, for better or for worse. This can be seen as while some characters struggle and ultimately become stronger people, such as Anna and Elinor, the disaster brings out the worst in others, such as Josiah Bont. In summary, although Year of Wonders does not contain an obvious, physical journey, other forms of journey are strongly present in it, be they the mental and emotional journeys that the various characters undertake, or the imaginative journey that the reader takes. The use of the framing device of the plague year supports both, allowing us to see the journeys that those facing hardship must undertake, as well as providing historical context for the reader's imaginative journey. In this way, Year of Wonders, although at first glance it appears to be “The antithesis of travel,” heavily represents many different forms of travel..