With the lingering despair the Civil War had placed upon the nation, Charles Frazier's "Cold Mountain" singles out a parallel journey mirrored between Inman and Ada while they evolve through perilous times while learning to survive on an uncertain journey that will promise nothing to either. Inman and Ada, navigate what is seemingly similar paths searching for life emotionally and physically, in hopes to return to each other. Inman's journey will force him to be recognized as a deserter from the war, placing a bounty on his head, risking all he has in anticipations to one day be reunited with Ada. Ada, will alter her newly settled life at Cold Mountain to learn survival, no amount of formal teaching received in the past could benefit her in this struggle. With two journeys separated by the physical road traveled by each character, their journeys are similar in the ways they are both on a quest of love and finding their newly assigned place in a world they no longer recognize. During this time they will be faced with hardships that will push them to question everything they once new, and mature through the journey that could alter who they were when this quest originally began.
With the passing of Ada's father Monroe, Ada is quickly made aware who she was and all that she has known will not be successful if she wishes to survive in the mountainous setting before her. Monroe's ideas for his daughter, whom he loved dearly, could now possibly be the means to her end. Her social significance and "educated beyond the point considered wise for females" (30), would offer no relief to Ada's futile attempts of managing the wild country. With each passing day Ada's will to life was diminishing as hastily as the presence of a once well groomed farm that now resembled more of a land overgrown and wild, with upkeep a thing of the past. Inman's journey would appear just as bleak as Ada's with his unfortunate injury that would almost claim his existence.