BACKGROUND OF THE NOVELIST

Susanne Bellefeuille is a sister, mother, grandmother and an Inspirational mentor to many

people. Graduating from Social Service Worker program at St Lawrence College in Cornwall,
Ontario, Susanne spends countless hours offering her professional aid, guidance, and most
importantly, her friendship to people with intellectual disabilities.

Her journey is not only to write books but also to help people reach their full potential, as she
truly believes that everyone deserves the opportunity to shine in life.

SUMMARY OF THE NOVEL

Chapter 1 Summary

In Chapter 1 of Path of Lucas, Lucy’s accident reveals her deep relationship with her family.
Notwithstanding that she had three children from her previous marriage and is obviously a
grandmother, her husband Mark clearly shows his responsibility towards her by rushing her to
the hospital where she is attended to and contacting her family members, especially her dear
father, Lucas, who later arrives and begins to tell a story about his courtship with her mother,
though he knows she is in a coma and cannot hear him.

Chapter 2 Summary

Lucas’s love life which begins at the age of seventeen, towards Isabelle, the daughter of his
father’s contemporary, pictures the natural psychological and emotional growth in Lucas.
Though after picking her up with her sister in his Studebaker while they were returning from the
farm, the love he develops at first sight proves that he is emotionally free and is not a difficult
person. And his parents discover his new love life through his narrative. They provide some sort
of assurance to him.

Chapter 3 Summary

As Lucas’s childhood friend, Steve, who had been away for years on his pursuit to become a
pilot, visits the neighborhood again, Lucas feels the breath of pure friendship.

Steve’s place in Lucas’s life is essential, as he continually props Lucas up to chase his own
dream of becoming a mechanic even though he has to help his father, He urges Lucas to go in
search of Isabelle since he hasn’t seen her in a while and is feeling it.

Steve, though from a poor background, unlike Lucas, is bold and courageous and evidently
beats up Kira, their childhood notorious contemporary who ends up becoming a town bully.
Steve does not spend much time with Lucas, as he is called by the air force back to work at a far
place, Cold Lake, Alberta. Although Lucas feels the vacuum of his friend, he is equally
strengthened by the courage he has put into his life.

Chapter 4 Summary
The next time Lucas meets Isabelle, it is a form of renewal of hope. He can actually find another
time to spend with her. He also visits Steve’s parents. He affirms that he would always be of
help to them. The two families therefore portray a family friend relationship.

Chapter 5 Summary

In chapter 5 of Path of Lucas, Lucas’s relationship with Isabelle progresses. The depth of their
love is evident when he appeals to take her on a date. They go to Mama Jean’s restaurant. Even
as Lucas returns, his open mindedness to tell his parents about the date reveals the free nature
of the family.

Chapter 6 Summary

Lucas continues his story at the hospital, his daughter still unconscious. He narrates the second
date he had with Isabelle which was at the theatre. There, they also solidify their relationship.

Chapter 7 Summary

As Lucas and Isabelle go out, Isabelle acts in a way Lucas cannot understand. Even as they
return, Isabelle leaves him and runs into the forest. As Lucas chases her, he prefers not to make
it urgent for her to speak if she would get hurt.

Chapter 8 Summary

As Lucas goes to Mr. Thomas’s house to give him some papers to sign on behalf of his father
who bought Mr. Thomas’s land, he accidentally sees Isabelle. He wonders what she was doing.
As they meet, he promises to drive her home after seeing Mr. Thomas.

Chapter 9 Summary

As he takes her home, they stop by at an oak tree and Isabelle freely tells him what has been
disturbing her. How her father abuses her emotionally and her mother abuses her physically but
she begs him not to hold a beef against her parents. He respects her wish.

Chapter 10 Summary

In chapter 10 of Path of Lucas, Lucas takes Isabelle out for her birthday party at Mama Jean’s
and proposes to her and she agrees. Their love continues to grow.

Chapter 11 Summary

Lucas and Isabelle continue their time. They spend time in the wood and come back to look at
Lucas grandfather’s paintings. Isabelle confirms that his grandfather is a reputable artist.

Chapter 12 Summary

In chapter 12 of Path of Lucas, Isabelle gets pregnant from their last love making. She doesn’t
know how to tell Lucas. Julia, her boss’s granddaughter, takes her to the hospital in Alexandria
where she is confirmed pregnant by Dr Bates.

Chapter 13 Summary

Isabelle later reveals to Lucas that she is pregnant. She tells him this at a concert where they
went to see a hockey star, Richard Maurice, with Lucas family. Lucas is happy and plans to start
a family with Isabelle.

Chapter 14 Summary

In chapter 14 of Path of Lucas, Lucas and Isabelle get married. The both families are happy for
them. Two of them tell their families that she is pregnant. France, her sister, is also pregnant
and the both are ready to give birth.

Chapter 15 Summary

Isabelle gives birth to her first son, Richard, and has three subsequent births, two boys and a girl.
Though the girl child, Lucy, gives her much difficulty to bear, she survives it. They are happy and
their family bond grows.

Chapter 16 Summary

In chapter 16 of Path of Lucas, Jim, Lucas’s friend, invites him to come and work for him as a
mechanic at Uxbridge, since the latter is passionate about working as a mechanic. He offers to
pay his tuition fees to go to school there and be a certified mechanic. Isabelle agrees and the
family moves to Uxbridge.

Chapter 17 Summary

Isabelle passes through extreme child difficulty to give birth. She survives and gives birth to a
son named Thomas. Though she suffers haemorrhage and the baby becomes so weak that he
is put in a heart monitor, they both survive.

Chapter 18 Summary

Lucas’s parents visit them at Uxbridge. John, his father ,further begs him to come home so they
won’t lose the farm they laboured for. He begs Lucas to come home and work for him on the
farm since he is getting old and frail. Lucas agrees.

Chapter 19 Summary

In chapter 19 of Path of Lucas, Lucas narrates his disturbing discussion with his father about
the plea to return to the farm. Isabelle hesitates at first, reminding him of the risks of losing his
schooling and his job. Reluctantly, she agrees to his plea in order to make him happy.

Chapter 20 Summary
Lucas takes Isabelle to his parents. John and Elizabeth are happy to welcome them. Lucas
begins to see the good side of his return. They also visit his brother James and his family who
now live in Cornwell Street.

Chapter 21 Summary

Steve returns from travel and visits Lucas’s family. He reaffirms his friendship with Lucas. As he
goes back to his workplace at Alberta, he is reported to have died of plane crash. Lucas
painfully arranges the burial of Steve. Dracy, Mary’s child, also die, as well as Mr Bourgeois,
Isabelle’s father.

Chapter 22 Summary

Richard, Isabelle’s child, suffers serious sickness after he swam in cold weather. It is
inflammation of the brain. Through Lucas’s and Isabelle’s relentless efforts, he later recovers.

Chapter 23 Summary

Lucas meets a friend, Ron, who ask him to join him in his search for a job at a cable company
that pays well. Lucas discusses it with Isabelle and they agree. Lucas is given the job. The
family starts having a good life.

Chapter 24 Summary

After a long sickness, France, Isabelle’s sister, dies of obesity and heart distress. She is buried.
With Lucas’s help, Isabelle writes and reads a eulogy for her sister at the funeral. She greatly
feels the loss.

Chapter 25 Summary

Isabelle gains weight and luckily loses it. She is congratulated and they request that she gives a
health speech at Ottawa. Lucas gets promotion to go and work at Kemptville. Isabelle is very
sick again and she is sedated in the hospital.

Chapter 26 Summary

Lucas returns from Kemptville to see Isabelle at the general hospital. The doctor tells him she is
suffering from depression and might lose her memory. The whole family is frightened at
Isabelle’s sickness.

Chapter 27 Summary

Lucas continues visiting Isabelle at the hospital and gets further confused when Dr Jones tells
him there is little hope. Elizabeth, Lucas’s mother, takes care of the children and the family
prays for Isabelle’s recovery.

Chapter 28 Summary
In chapter 28 of Path of Lucas, Lucas considers abandoning his work at Kemptville in order to
fully care for Isabelle. The doctor tells him that Isabelle can no longer recover and should be
sent to an institution. Lucas proves him wrong by requesting to take his wife into the society to
make sure she recovers. The doctor reluctantly accepts.

Chapter 29 Summary

It is December, almost one year of Isabelle in the hospital. Isabelle is recovering but can’t
remember major details about her family. Later, Lucas takes her for Christmas shopping. As she
unwraps the presents and pictures, she starts getting some memories that she is Lucas’s wife
but she doesn’t yet remember her children.

Chapter 30 Summary

Lucas continues narrating his story to his daughter, Lucy. In his story, he takes Isabelle home to
see the children. It doesn’t work the first time because she is scared, but the second time, it
works and she embraces her family. They spend Christmas together.

Chapter 31 Summary

Lucas does not continue work at Kemptville. He works in the wood logging business. They’re
not that rich. Lucy gets pregnant at 16 by her boyfriend, Justin. As the family is thinking about
how they will go about it, their son Richard impregnates his girlfriend Chelsea and it is over six
months. They plan on how to go abort it.

Chapter 32 Summary

In chapter 32 of Path of Lucas, Chelsea gives birth to a girl. Richard gets very sick and has
difficulty in breathing. His throat also tightens. The family rushes him to the hospital. The doctor
transfers him to Ottawa for further diagnosis and says it could be cancer.

Chapter 33 Summary

At Ottawa, Richard is confirmed to have a tumor which is cancerous. The doctor treats him but,
within some weeks, Richard gets sick again. They find cancer cells in his lymph nodes. He does
not survive it and dies. Lucas’s father, John, also gets hospitalized. They arrange a funeral for
Richard.

Chapter 34 Summary

Chelsea’s new boyfriend has a conflict with Lucas, and Chelsea elopes with him. Elizabeth,
Lucas’s mother, is very ill with Alzheimer’s disease. She does not survive it. The family plans a
funeral. Isabelle also gets a chronic heart attack and she dies. Lucas is shattered.

Chapter 35 Summary

Lucas is still with his daughter at the hospital. Her children visit her at the hospital. It seems like
Lucy can hear them. Lucas later stumbles over and loses consciousness. From there, he dies.
His beloved children and grandchildren mourn him.

THEMES

Theme of Love

Love is one of the dominant themes in Path of Lucas. The novel is a story of love demonstrated
by Lucas Clarkson and other characters. Lucas’s love for Isabelle is shown in his readiness to
wait for her to fulfil her duty of taking care of her siblings before getting married. He shows
tolerance, which is a product of love, by staying with Isabelle even when she cannot
communicate in English.

Lucas’s love for his loved ones is evident all through the novel, in fact, the reader is given the
impression that it is Lucas love that gets the family going. He gives up his dream of becoming a
certified Grade A mechanic, just to help his father in his farm and to avoid the farm being sold.
His love for his wife and children is greatly expressed in the following lines: “ . . . she looks up at
Lucas feeding the baby. She feels joy and love for the wonderful father and loving husband”
(Chapter 20).

He demonstrated a rare kind of love by leaving Uxbridge to help the father in his farm and we
see how important this is when his father says “Son, thank you so much for moving back with
your mother and me.” John says this with teary eyes. In response, Lucas says “Dad, we are
family after all, and I am here to help you get through your difficult times” (Chapter 20).

When Isabelle falls into depression, Lucas once again shows his love for his wife by not giving
up on her, even against the advice of the doctors. He stays by her side and nurtures her back to
health, albeit, through many challenges.

Theme of Devotion

The theme of devotion is one of the noticeable themes in Path of Lucas. Lucas shows a great
deal of devotion towards his parents, wife and children by certain choices he takes. He extends
this attitude of devotion towards his work and this is shown in his promotion at work after only
a few months. He also stays with his daughter, Lucy, in the hospital, placing her health above his
personal comfort.

The theme of devotion is also evident in other characters. John, Lucas’s father, drives Isabelle,
Lucas’s wife, to the hospital even in his weak state because Elizabeth does not have a driver’s
license. This act shows that importance is placed on every member of the family, their position
and age, notwithstanding.

It is this same devotion that keeps the family going even during difficult times. Lucas stays with
Isabelle during her period of depression and we are told “Lucas does not want to hear what the
doctor is saying. He knows there has been no progress, but he is not one to give in. Lucas has
always been persistent and placed his family first” (Chapter 28).

He tells Dr Jones “I believe in my heart that this will work. I know it is like finding a needle in a
hay stack, but this is my last chance to have my wife back” (Chapter 28). Such is his level of
devotion to his family. It is clear in the following lines: “. . . he pats Lucas on the shoulder with
admiration for Lucas’s devotion and underlying love” (Chapter 29).

Theme of Determination

The theme of determination runs across Path of Lucas and is shown by different characters.
Lucas is determined to build a happy family and at the same time, continue to give his
unflinching support to his parents. He tells his father “Thanks, Dad! I feel like I’m fighting for all
of our lives and will do anything for her” (Chapter 29). Lucas knows he is not physically strong
for what he wants to do, but he is determined to take the risk of going the length to inform
Lucy’s brothers of her recovery. He endures series of jolts to his heart, determined to make the
call and get back to Lucy’s side. He does not care about the possible consequence which
comes shortly as shown in the following lines: “Lucas is almost to Lucy’s room when another
jolt hits his chest, and this one brings him down to his knee . . . He knows this is serious and
that there is something very wrong as he falls flat to the floor.” He dies from this final jolt and he
is reunited with his wife, Isabelle.

In the early part of the novel, Lucas is determined to go on a date with Isabelle despite the fact
that she cannot communicate in English: “For the rest of the week, Lucas is preoccupied
thinking about his date with Isabelle. Lucas tries to learn a few French words; he practices his
French daily while he works, and then he rehearses in the evening with his mom” (Chapter 5).

CHARACTER ANALYSIS MAJOR AND MINOR

Lucas Clarkson

Lucas Clarkson is the protagonist of Path of Lucas. He suffers many ups and downs in the
novel. He sits in the hospital with his daughter, Lucy, who is in coma, to narrate his love life with
her mother, Isabelle.

He had fallen in love with Isabelle when they were little and he grows up to love her more, even
marrying her, though he later loses her. He becomes a father of five and Lucy is his fourth child.
Also, he later loses his friend, Steve, and his mother, Elizabeth.

Isabelle Clarkson (née Bourgeois)

Isabelle is one of the notable characters in Path of Lucas. She is Lucas’s wife. She had loved
Lucas since their young age. She gets pregnant for him and marries him. She is from a poor
background where her family frustrates her. Her father emotionally abuses her and physically,
through beating. She works in Mr. Thomas’s farm. In her marriage with Lucas, she is a mother
of five. She later dies in the novel.

John Clarkson

John Clarkson is the father to Lucas who loves and supports his son. He is a wealthy farmer
who is responsible for providing for his family. He later gets old and begs Lucas to come home
and help him work on the farm.

Elizabeth Clarkson

She is one of the noticeable characters in Path of Lucas. She is Lucas’s mother and John’s wife.
She is very open minded and welcomes Isabelle into their home. She is also very fond of her
grandchildren.

Jim

Jim is a friend to Lucas who offers him a job to come to Uxbridge and work for him as a
mechanic since his business is progressing. He also offers to pay Lucas’s tuition fees to go to a
school in Uxbridge and become a certified mechanic.

Julia

Julia is the granddaughter to the boss of Isabelle, Mr. Thomas. Out of her kindness, she takes
Isabelle in her car to a hospital in Alexandria to see Dr Bates for Isabelle’s pregnancy test. She
also comforts Isabelle in her pregnancy.

Steve

Steve is Lucas’s childhood friend who later meets him again when they were teenagers. He
shows his support for Lucas’s dream and urges him to go on with Isabelle. He later leaves
Lucas again for his maritime job at Cold Lake, Alberta where he was posted.

Richard Maurice
Richard is the celebrity hockey player who signs an autograph for Lucas in his concert and
greets John, Lucas’s father.

Mr Bourgeois

Mr Bourgeois is Isabelle’s father whom she had complained of to Lucas about emotional abuse.
As he gets old with sickness, he values nature more and prefers to sit outside. He also pleads
for forgiveness.

Dr Bates

Dr Bates is a doctor at Alexandria. He is the one who checks Isabelle’s pregnancy test and
confirms it is positive. He also prescribes some food items for her since she faces nausea.

STYLES USED IN PATH OF LUCAS

Path of Lucas" employs a style that is largely introspective and descriptive, utilizing vivid
imagery and metaphor to evoke emotions and paint a picture of Lucas's experiences. The
narrative is told from a third-person perspective using the "historic present" tense, creating a
sense of immediacy and allowing the narrator to explore Lucas's thoughts and memories.

Introspective and Descriptive:

The writing style focuses on Lucas's inner thoughts and feelings, often using descriptive
language to create a strong sense of atmosphere and evoke emotions.

Vivid Imagery:

The author uses descriptive language to paint a picture of Lucas's experiences, making the
story feel more relatable and immersive for the reader.

Metaphor and Symbolism:

Metaphors and symbolism are used to convey deeper meanings, inviting the reader to reflect on
the themes presented in the story.

Third-Person Narrative:

The story is told from an omniscient narrator, who takes over the narration from Lucas,
providing a broader perspective on his journey.

Historic Present Tense:

The use of the present tense, even when recounting past events, creates a sense of immediacy
and allows the reader to feel as if they are experiencing Lucas's journey in real-time.

Stream of Consciousness:

The narrative incorporates elements of stream of consciousness, allowing the reader to

experience Lucas's thoughts and memories as they unfold in his mind.