“This plague will make heroes of us all, whether we will or no”. How heroic are
the people of Eyam?
Intro:
Year of Wonders is a historical novel based around the village of Eyam, which
quarantined itself between 1665 and 1666 when the plague arrives from London
on bolts of fabric. As the plague sweeps through the town and the population is
slowly and inexorably decimated, Brooks explores the variety of reactions that
are possible when small communities are ravaged by tragedy. Many of the
characters find wells of courage and resilience that they never knew existed
within them, allowing them to perform heroic acts, whilst others display
selfishness and greed brought on by the need to preserve their own lives and
comfort.
Examples:
 The entire village quarantines itself, but the pressure begins to bring out
the underlying tensions within the town
 Anna, Michael and Elinor attempt to keep hope alive in the town and ease
the suffering of the inflicted, whilst other characters such as Josiah and
Aphra Bont seek to capitalize on the weakness of those sick with plague
or fear.
Main Body
Anna:
 Formally a maid who served the Mompellions (consider how she holds
herself at the end of the text)
 Tries to stop the hysteria around Mem and Anys Gowdie
 Despite being drawn to the Poppy to escape the pain over the death of
her sons, she pulls away from this and seeks occupation and comfort in
her work.
 Is encouraged by Elinor to learn about Herb Lore after the death of the
Gowdies, as well as midwivery.
 Saving Merry Wickford’s mine – confronting her fears (remembering that
Sam died in the mine)
Michael
 Works tirelessly to save the town
 Advises them to keep themselves in
 Promises no-one will die alone
 Emotional toll – he has to stay strong and positive
 Approaches Reverend Stanley to seek, support advice and council, as well
as to unify the town.
 Digs the graves for a while until exhaustion overtakes him
 Suggests the “Great Burning” which does help put a stop to the Plague.
 Without the law, he seems to be the final word in right and wrong in the
town
Elinor:
 She made the suggestion to stay in the village
 Willing to learn about the herbs and comfort people
 Seems tireless, fearless.
 Puts herself at risk – in the mine etc
Brand???
Collective Village:
 While the villagers band together and agree to lock themselves in, the
plague takes a toll on their good intentions.
 Gowdies – accused of witchcraft
 Josiah is left to the elements when impaled on the rock and Aphra is
thrown into a trough of manure
Josiah Bont and Aphra Bont
 Exploit the townspeople for the own gain – Bont with the grave-digging,
Aphra with impersonating the ghost of Anys Gowdie.
 Brooks does show some sympathy for these characters (Bont’s tragic past
at sea and Aphra having a difficult marriage)
 The town’s anger towards them engenders further acts of cowardice and
inhumanity towards them
The Bradfords
 Despite Mompellion’s pleas to stay in the village and ensure the plague
does not spread, the Bradfords pack up and exit, leaving several villagers
without employment or a place to leave.
 Ignoring social and moral obligations
 Further reinforced at the end of the novel when Elizabeth Bradford
attempts to drown her bastard/illegitimate sister.
Conclusion:
The Plague changed many of the characters in positive and negative ways.
When confronted with suffering and death, some characters draw on
compassion and caring, allowing them to commit heroic deeds in service of
others, whilst others act in self-serving ways to protect themselves and those
close to them with no thought for how their actions affect the wider
community. As a whole, when seeking a scapegoat they cause the deaths of
two well-meaning villagers whose only sin was in being different. While it
was a ‘Year of Wonders’ for Anna, many villagers in Eyam would be left
questioning their own actions and integrity during the plague year.