Daughter of Fortune by Isabel Allende is the story of a woman, Eliza Sommers, who, running away from home and chasing love, discovers a new life along the way. In her travels Eliza meets many people who become prominent people in her life, shaping and molding her as she meets them. Many of these figures are women like Eliza, and each plays a different role in Eliza's life. Miss Rose, a strong-willed woman, raises Eliza as her own daughter, teaching her everything she knows as Eliza ages. Later in her journey, Eliza meets Joe Bonecrusher, who believes she is a man stuck in a woman's body. These three women are all dominant women, which shows that even in the 1800s, women played an important role in society. Isabel Allende's Daughter of Fortune represents the independent women of mid-19th century America, building a life for themselves in a harsh environment where men are the dominant force. Eliza Sommers, the protagonist, is a perfect example of a woman who does not let herself be limited by society's standards. Eliza is raised by Miss Rose and her brother Jeremy, left in their care by the brothers' older brother, John. Even though Eliza grew up in a family where class is everything, she is willing to take risks that might even bring shame to her family. When she meets Joaquin Andieta, she immediately falls in love with him. She begins to sneak him into her house, so that they can share night after night together in one of the remote rooms of her family's estate. Not once does Eliza worry about the consequences and the reputation it would give her family if she were ever caught. Shortly after Eliza's lover leaves for California in search of gold, Eliza discovers that she is pregnant. Rather than sit and wait for his return as many women of this time would have done, Eliza makes the decision to follow him and begins looking for passage to California. Without a word to her family, Eliza is smuggled onto a ship ready to sail and sets off to find her lover. This is one of Eliza's many decisions that make her the strong-willed woman she will become on her journey. When Eliza arrives in California, she immediately begins building a life for herself..