Essay Questions

What is the most poignant detail about Rosalie, the eldest daughter in Booth’s family?

Rosalie is a character who suffers from various mishaps in her life, ranging from taking responsibility for her hysterical mother, taking care of her surviving siblings, and dealing with the mysterious ghosts from her dead siblings that haunt her. When Rosalie is born, she looks promising, loving, and insightful, but life becomes unfair to her, as she grows older. Rosalie's identity gets lost as she grows older because she moves from one relative to the other with no autonomy. Therefore, Rosalie is a dynamic character who has seen it all in her life but is determined to find her destiny.

What is paradoxical about the title character, John Wilkes Booth?

John was born and raised by an anti-slavery family that values human life regardless of race and culture. John's father is a strong abolitionist who believes in safeguarding lives while everyone has equal opportunities to succeed. Paradoxically, John becomes something else that leaves readers dumbfounded. John is pro-slavery and pro-secession, attributes that contradict the foundations of his upbringing. Despite John becoming a successful actor like his father, he also becomes a criminal and ends up assassinating Abraham Lincoln.

How does slavery emerge as one of the main themes in Booth by Karen Joy Fowler?

Slavery in the 18th century in the United States of America is a major point of focus discussed by the author. Fowler introduces Booth's family as anti-slavery when it relocates to their small residence in Northeast Baltimore, Maryland, in 1822. However, slavery was at its peak during this period because enslaved people could only buy freedom if they wanted to be free. Joe is an enslaved person working in Booth's family, but he is given a salary, unlike other enslaved people forced to work freely. Joe's wife is also an enslaved person working in another neighborhood, and they hope that they will raise enough money to buy their freedom.