to leave her because they will never be happy again, and she will only hold him back from his work. Marie sits alone in their apartment, her marriage and life work destroyed. Characters Marie Rogers - The protagonist of the story is believed to be a portrayal of Agnes Smedley. Her childhood is one of nomadic poverty, her father always moving the family in search of opportunities that continually fail. Beginning at a young age and reinforced throughout her life, Marie witnesses unhealthy marriages and gender bias. She grows up to relate marriage to slavery and refuses to compromise herself for a relationship. Because of this, her two marriages fail. Marie strives to make something of herself through education and hard work. Because of her background, she has a strong desire to see working-class people succeed. Marie's involvement in the Socialist Party leaves this desire unfilled. She finds purpose in the Indian liberation cause. Marie receives sharp criticism for assisting the Indian movement when so much help is needed in America. She stands by her decisions, claiming that all struggling people are her people. She does not see herself as purely “American” but as a daughter of earth. John Rogers - Marie's Father. A Missouri farmer, John moves from wood chopping to coal hauling in search of a better life. He repeatedly abandons his family or forces them to move in search of work and wealth. His attempts fail. He is seen as charming, and Marie admires his story-telling abilities. Elly Rogers - Marie's mother. Elly Rogers is an abused wife. The mother-daughter relationship changes as Marie grows up, and heavily influences Marie's attitudes toward marriage and children. Often characterized in the novel by her rough hands, black from work, Elly works as a wash woman and later running a boarding house to support her family during her husband's frequent absences. She dies at an early age from poor nutrition. Helen - Elly Rogers's beautiful younger sister. Helen is strong, proud, independent, and loves life. She is admired and envied by both genders. Although once engaged to Annie's husband, Sam, Helen never marries and makes her living as a prostitute, attracted by beautiful things, a better income than marriage offers, and the control prostitution allows her to have over her own body. When Marie's father fails to provide for his family, Helen takes on the responsibility. Marie maintains a close