In the Turner’s article, he describes the west ward expansion “developing at each area of this progress out of the primitive economic and political conditions of the frontier…” The frontier is characterized as shifting wave of progress. Then there are the individuals that Turner describes as “expanding people.”

On the frontier lies the land and the people. The people strive for their individualism, their own improvement and progress. There is, the land that is full of opportunity for all. I noted that the two are often paired together. However, I find them to contradict one another. Although people settled in the frontier to seek individual freedom, they still were tied to the prosperity of their neighbors. Expansion was a national effort.

I was surprised that Alexandra had an interest in seeing Frank in prison. She forgave him and told him openly, “I hope you’ll let me be friendly with you. I understand how you did it I don’t feel hard toward you. They were more to blame than you.” (116)  She thought to herself that Marie brought the tragedy upon herself because of her overly loving nature. Do you interpret this as Alexander being “out of character?”