Isolation and Self-Governance

Where it surfaces

• I

  The funeral on the plains and the mother's wish for Sophie to grow up in the quiet of the Ridge emphasize the isolated, self-contained community.

• Chapter IV

  The Ridge as a self-contained world where Michael and the community try to manage their own affairs.

• VII

  The Ridge's self-contained society, with its own gossip and norms, is highlighted through Mrs. Watty Frost's prejudices and the miners' discussions.

• VIII

  The Ridge operates as a self-governing entity, with popular custom and opinion at Newton's bar serving as the seat of government, and external laws respected or disregarded as the community sees fit.

• IX

  The encounter on the dusty road and the wild, open plains emphasize the isolated setting and the characters' self-reliant lives.

• II

  The debate over handling rats reflects the isolated community's struggle to maintain order without effective external law enforcement.

• IV

  The Ridge community's independence is highlighted by their refusal to sell to Armitage and Son.

• V

  Sophie's return to the remote Ridge as a place of peace and refuge underscores the isolation and self-contained community.

• VI

  The quiet, remote setting of the goat-yard and the twilight underscore the isolated yet self-sufficient life of the characters.

• XI

  The Ridge's declaration of independence and the miners' preference for freedom over material comforts are central to the conflict with Armitage's capitalist plans.

• XIV

  The Ridge's independence is threatened by John Armitage's scheme, and Sophie and Potch are committed to fighting for their principles.

• XVII

  The Ridge community's self-imposed isolation and values are tested by Arthur's intrusion, underscoring the tension between personal desire and communal duty.