Riding Freedom

Charlotte, the novel’s protagonist, is an orphan who manages to escape cruel conditions and become a renowned stagecoach driver in an era when women were not allowed to vote or do “men’s” work. She survives multiple fevers as a baby and a wagon crash that kills both of her parents. She is immediately introduced as a survivor who overcomes the hardships thrown at her. Charlotte is depicted as being unlike other girls through traits that contrast with traditional femininity. She never owns a doll or hosts a tea party, she can’t sew, and she wouldn’t know a petticoat if she saw one. Her wild hair and untied ribbons reflect her tomboyish attitude and appearance. The fact that her “frock was too big and hung like a sack on her small frame” (5) further emphasizes how ill-suited she is to fulfill traditional gender roles.

Charlotte is concerned with justice from an early age. She understands that Mrs. Boyle treats her unfairly simply because she is a girl. She defends Hayward from the bully William. She knows that Mr. Millshark is a hypocrite who exploits the orphans. She is powerfully skilled in horse racing but is denied the opportunity because Mr.