What aspects of her mother Estella does Naomi strive to hold onto? How does she accomplish this? What does the preservation of Estella’s mementos say about Naomi, and in what ways does she want to live her life differently from her mother?

What role does religion play in Out of Darkness? How might Pastor Tom feel about Henry and the prospect of him marrying Naomi if he knew about Henry’s abuse? How does Henry manipulate religion to serve his own desires?

Wash loves and respects his parents, but feels that his father is too deferential in his interactions with white people—especially when fair treatment and opportunities for people of color are at stake. In what ways does Wash attempt to assert his own identity, separate from his parents? In planning to escape with Naomi and the twins, how might Wash be disappointing his parents?