The River Between Us is set during the Civil War, so it's no surprise that the North and South are contrasted. We see the contrast mostly through individuals—boys who drill for one side or the other, older men who debate the issues, family members who make different choices about which side to support. The most powerful images of contrast, however, are those of Delphine and Calinda living their New Orleans-flavored lives in a small town in Illinois. The fact that they are able to find some reconciliation between the two ways of life gives us hope for the nation.
Questions About Contrasting Regions: North and South
- Do certain characters "represent" the North and others the South? Other than where they're from, how do you know?
- How do Noah and Paw end up on different sides? Why do you think each chooses the side he fights on?
- According to the book, what is the South like? What is the North like? Does the book take a side?
- Who do you think Calinda supports in the war, if anyone, and why? She never says, unlike Delphine.
Chew on This
The South is presented as an opulent, luxurious place to party, while the North is presented as more practical and hardworking.
Delphine and Noah's relationship represents a reunion of North and South.