Geneva Walker Character Analysis in The Great Alone

Geneva is the ex-wife of Tom Walker, as well as the mother of Matthew Walker. She is romantically involved with Calhoun Malvey. Geneva helps the Allbrights get settled on their new homestead and fills in as a teacher at the Kaneq school. She is fond of Leni and encourages the relationship forming between Leni and Matthew. One night, while heading home, Geneva falls through ice and dies.

Geneva Walker Character Timeline in The Great Alone

The timeline below shows where the character Geneva Walker appears in The Great Alone. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

...door, which turns out to be Marge and two other women named Natalie Watkins and Geneva Walker. The three women have come to help the Allbrights prepare their homestead, and though... (full context)

Marge, Natalie, and Geneva help the Allbrights make a cache—a small, elevated platform to keep food away from bears—as... (full context)

...hour later, Leni is in school. Because Ms. Rhodes could not make it in today, Geneva Walker, Matthew’s mother, is teaching class. Geneva takes the children on a field trip to... (full context)

...help find them. The Allbrights gear up and head into town, where they learn that Geneva and Matthew Walker are missing. An officer gives them flashlights and they begin looking for... (full context)

In the days following Geneva’s death, everyone in Kaneq is in mourning. Leni spends her time trying and failing to... (full context)

...decides to take her class on a field trip. She is keenly aware of how Geneva’s death affected the community, and she wants to do something that will lift everyone’s spirits.... (full context)

...his mother’s death. However, they have a touching reunion and Tom assures his son that Geneva’s death was no one’s fault. (full context)

...Leni discuss Matthew. Leni wants to see Matthew by herself, so Tom takes her to Geneva’s old cabin in the woods where Matthew is now living. When Leni enters the cabin,... (full context)

Before Leni can leave Geneva’s cabin, Matthew says, “Wait.” Internally, Matthew is confused; he cannot articulate his thoughts the way... (full context)