Examine Isabelle as a wife and mother in the novel.

As a wife, Isabelle is deeply devoted to Tom Sherbourne. She is fiercely loyal and supportive, especially in the isolated environment of Janus Rock. Her love for Tom is profound, and she relies on him for emotional stability and companionship. However, her intense desire for motherhood, coupled with her grief over multiple miscarriages, significantly impacts their marital relationship, leading her to make a morally complex decision that strains their bond.

As a mother, Isabelle's character is defined by her overwhelming longing for a child and her subsequent fierce protectiveness. After finding a baby washed ashore, she convinces Tom to raise the child, whom they name Lucy, as their own. Isabelle pours all her love and maternal instincts into Lucy, becoming an incredibly devoted and doting mother. Her identity becomes inextricably linked to motherhood, and she struggles immensely when faced with the possibility of losing Lucy, demonstrating the depth of her maternal love and the lengths she would go to keep her child.