As she recovers from the birth of her last child, who dies in early infancy, Helga reverts to a familiar emotional pattern. Helga’s initial zeal for helping the poor women of the community is replaced by exhaustion and illness as she gives birth four times over a short period. They relocate to rural Alabama to minister to a small congregation. Her conversion is so immediate and extreme that she seduces and marries the naïve minister of the church, Mr. She is emotionally vulnerable and decides to embrace religion. Robert Anderson.ĭepressed and isolated once more, Helga wanders the streets of Harlem and happens upon a revival meeting. Initially happy in Harlem, she becomes irritable and restless again, particularly after a brief but humiliating romantic interlude with Dr. Helga returns to America to attend the wedding of Anne Gray and Robert Anderson. Helga becomes repulsed by Olsen and angered by his proposal much to the chagrin of her family, she rejects the offer. Helga meets a famous portrait artist, Axel Olsen, who eventually proposes marriage to her. She enjoys the material wealth and attention that is afforded her there, as well as the hiatus from the prejudice she experienced in America. Ultimately, Helga comes to resent the people of color by whom she is surrounded and finds her generous hostess to be hypocritical and shallow.Īn unexpected letter from her uncle, Peter, contains the funds that allow her to exit Harlem and travel to Denmark to reside with her maternal aunt and uncle. Here, Helga is in her true element as she resides in the luxurious townhouse of Anne Gray, a young widow. While residing at the YWCA, she ultimately secures employment as an assistant to a wealthy widow, Mrs. This event introduces a cycle of social isolation, anger and despair that characterizes Helga. She travels by segregated train to Chicago for the purpose of securing a loan from her white uncle however, she is rebuffed by his wife and maid.

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