Oppression
The novel portrays how the women in the Mennonite colony are oppressed by the patriarchal system that governs their community and the men who lead up that system. The women in the colony are not allowed to read or write and are forced to wear restrictive clothing. Additionally, they have limited opportunities for education or personal growth. In virtually every aspect, second-class citizens are treated worse than many people treat their pets. They are essentially slaves and nothing more. The sexual assaults that occur in the novel can be seen as an extreme manifestation of this oppression, as the men in the community use their power and influence to violate the bodies of the women and then cover up the rapes, further illuminating the oppression the women of the colony live under.
Faith
The Mennonite community in which the novel is set is deeply religious, and faith is essential to women's lives. The women grapple with questions of faith in the aftermath of the assaults as they struggle to reconcile their belief in a loving God with the brutal violence that has been inflicted upon them. They have faith, but they must define what their faith means and how they interact with it.
Having a voice
The novel is concerned with having a voice and the power of language to empower or disempower individuals. The women in the book have been denied access to education and literacy, contributing to their vulnerability. Because they have neither a voice nor an education, they are able to be oppressed. Having a voice and an education enables people to be free. Gathering together to talk and share their stories is an essential step towards reclaiming their voices and agency. And their choice to leave the colony and bring their daughters and other male children under 15 further cements the importance and value of everyone having a voice.
