From the start of the narrative, Much-Afraid desires to transcend her current experience and escape the life in which she feels trapped. An orphan destined to a life spent with her Aunt, Mrs. Dismal Forebodings, along with her cousins Craven Fear, Gloomy, and Spiteful, seems to her to be the epitome of horror and strife. She goes daily to meet the Shepherd at the trysting place and is consumed with finding an escape from the grim reality of her life.

Much-Afraid is already living in fear and beset on all sides by the family of Fearings. Matters only get worse as she views her impending marriage to her cousin Craven Fear with dread. Going from being Much-Afraid to Mrs. Craven Fear is the worst possible outcome, and the threat of this scenario proves to be the catalyst for Much-Afraid to beg the Shepherd to take her into the High Places, far beyond the Valley. In the High Places, Much-Afraid is transformed into Grace and Glory and healed from all her infirmities after her immersion in the river of life. The Ascent of Love that she takes in obedience to the Shepherd’s direction and with the help of her two companions, Sorrow and Suffering, is how this transcendence occurs.