In what ways did elinor and michael mom[ellion become parental figures to anna

Because 17th-century men and women were not at liberty to be close friends with one another, women had to seek out other women in order to find companionship. These inter-female relationships appear numerous times in Year of Wonders, as Anna’s only real relationship with a male character is with Michael. Anna’s interactions with Elinor reveal how women become close to one another not only through necessity but also through hardship. Elinor and Anna can understand each other’s past without judgment. Anna and Anys have a similar relationship, in which each respects the other; Anys can see how dedicated Anna is to being a mother, and Anna knows that Anys truly wants to help the villagers stay healthy and fight disease. Although Aphra and Anna have a strained relationship, even their contact offers insight into how women interact with each other. There are small, subtle moments in their conversation when they can find common ground, especially on the subject of children.