Cushman's belief in perseverance despite obstacles or challenges that arise throughout life is another major theme. After Alyce is unable to deliver a baby, she gives up and runs away. She tells herself over and over again that she is a failure. Consequently, she truly believes she is a failure, incapable of being the midwife's apprentice. Will shows up at the inn and tells Alyce in a friendly way that she is not a failure, that she can't be expected to know everything. The midwife also visits the inn and comments that she needs an apprentice who doesn't give up.
After successfully delivering a baby at the inn, Alyce gains self-confidence and returns to the village, determined to work as the midwife's apprentice. Cushman reiterates the importance of perseverance as Alyce tells the midwife that, "I know how to try and risk and fail and try again and not give up."
Cushman exposes readers to the universality of an individual's search for his or her own place in the world, illustrating to her readers that they are not alone in their search. She writes about persevering when faced with life's challenges, showing that everyone falls down, but the people who get up, dust themselves off, and try again are the people who find their niche in the world.
