# Christine's Grave explained — Barriers Burned Away

> Chapter companion for Barriers Burned Away by Edward Payson Roe.

## What happens

After the fire, Christine tends to a poor German woman and reveals her newfound faith. Dennis finds Dr. Arten, who encourages them to head north. Exhausted, Christine rests in a vacant grave in a Catholic cemetery. During the rainy night, Dennis watches over her. At dawn, they continue northward, and Christine expresses her desire to never be her old self again. They reach Dr. Goodwin's church for relief.

## Themes in this chapter

### Faith and Doubt

Christine explicitly states she has lost her German scepticism and accepted Christian truth, marking a spiritual transformation.

### Suffering and Providence

The characters endure extreme hardship—fire, rain, hunger, exhaustion—yet find moments of grace and care, such as Christine's rest in a grave and the rain that quells the fire.

### Love and Sacrifice

Dennis sacrifices his own comfort to watch over Christine through the night, and both suppress their feelings out of concern for social barriers and duty.

## Character check-ins

### Christine Ludolph

Tends to a poor German woman, reveals she has lost her German scepticism and accepted Christian truth, rests in a vacant grave, expresses desire to never be her old self again.

### Dennis Fleet

Finds Dr. Arten, arranges Christine's rest in a grave, watches over her through the rainy night, leads her northward to Dr. Goodwin's church.

### Dr. Arten

Appears in incongruous costume, jokes with Christine and Dennis, gives Christine a powder, advises them to head north, wishes them God speed.

### Mr. Ludolph

Christine expresses concern for his safety and a desire to make amends for not being a true daughter.

## Key lines

> I am glad to say that I have lost my German scepticism in the fire also.

Christine tells Dr. Arten that the fire has burned away her doubts and she now embraces Christian faith.

_Key moment of spiritual transformation for Christine._

> I am so weary that I can rest anywhere, and a grave is not to me what it was once.

Christine, exhausted, agrees to sleep in a vacant grave, showing her changed perspective on death and fear.

_Symbolic resting place reflecting her new faith and acceptance._

> Ah! Mr. Fleet, I hope I shall never be my old self again.

Christine expresses her desire to leave behind her former skeptical, proud nature.

_Indicates her personal and spiritual rebirth after the fire._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/barriers_burned_away_se/chapters/xlvi-christine-s-grave
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/barriers_burned_away_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/barriers_burned_away_se/chapters