I first read The Witch of Blackbird Pond by Elizabeth George Speare in fourth or fifth grade. Since then, I have read it at least a half dozen times. Both a historical fiction and a (slightly) romance story (similar genres to Jane Austen), it’s been one of my favorites when I need a comforting book or an easy read.
I remember the first time I read this book I was nervous to read a book about a witch. I wasn’t very thrilled at the idea of book about magic or a scary story. But I quickly learned that it’s not at all about a witch in our modern sense, but rather the witch trials of the 1600s. It’s a wonderful story about the folly of the witch trials as well as the hard lives of the Puritans, and how one girl learns to fit in without sacrificing her values.
But first, what really is this story about?
Kit is a 16-year-old girl from Barbados. An orphan who lived with her grandfather, she is suddenly left without family at his death. Having heard of her mother’s sister in America, she decides the best course of action is to travel to Connecticut and hope they will accept her.
The story picks up toward the end of her journey as she speaks to the feisty young sailor, Nat (he’s a pretty important part of the story, so keep his name in mind). She catches her first glimpse of America during this conversation and is immensely disappointed at the change from Barbados. Where Barbados was colorful, bright, and welcoming, America seems grey, dull, and hostile.
She eventually reaches her aunt and uncle’s house, where she finds that her uncle is less than thrilled at the idea of having another mouth to feed. Kit quickly learns that the Puritan lifestyle her family members lead is not as easy as she thought.
Every day, there are chores to be done, soap to make, corn bread to cook. And to make matters worse, certain people in town are convinced Kit is a witch.
Part of the reason for this is the fact that Kit befriended an old, Quaker woman named Hannah. The town is certain that the widow is a witch because she has survived multiple floods from Blackbird Pond despite the fact that the water covered her house completely. She also lives alone and never attends Meeting.
Finally, Kit also develops a friendship with a little girl named Prudence, the daughter of the woman who is most convinced of Kit’s witchery. So, to review our cast of characters (who are all, in one way or another, social outcasts), we have Kit, Nat, Hannah, and Prudence. When one of the worst possible things Kit can imagine happens, these four must work together to save each other.
Christian Elements
Growing up on Barbados, Kit was free to do as she pleased. She never thought much about religion and she even says that she and her grandfather rarely attended church.
But though the endless rules and exhausting services of the Meeting House don’t seem to influence Kit much at first, the kindness of her cousin Mercy and Hannah the Quaker start to change Kit. When questioning Hannah about her faith, Kit asks if she can become a Quaker so that she doesn’t have to attend Meeting. Hannah responds simply with, “Thee doesn’t become a Quaker just to escape the Meeting”.
Even though Kit never really chooses between the Quaker and Puritan lifestyle, the best Christian elements of both influence her and teach her new life principles. The Puritan lifestyle seems cruel and harsh to her and the Quaker lifestyle seems unfair and trying. But she learns that many people of both denominations are devoted to their faith and it has a positive impact on Kit’s character development.
Character Development
Kit begins the story as quick-tempered, high-spirited, and rather naive. Throughout the story, Kit learns how to keep her passion and sense of justice without letting her emotions rule her. She also learns to care about others much more deeply than she ever has before. When Mercy falls ill toward the end of the story, Kit becomes her personal nurse, rarely leaving her side.
Kit also learns to tell right from wrong, and when it is okay to push back against the wrong. Despite having many occasions to act out against small offences, Kit is able to calm her temper with the help of Hannah. So, when the unthinkable happens to the widow, Kit is able to quietly help her without causing more problems for her.
Loyalty is a big issue as well. Kit’s grandfather raised her in loyalty to the king, but the Americans are searching for freedom. She struggles with the idea of fighting against the authority she has known all her life or staying true to it even when it doesn’t seem quite right. Nat tells her, “A man is loyal to the place he loves”. And it’s then that Kit realizes that there is more than just a dreary gloominess that unites these Americans.
We also see character developments in Nat and Prudence. Nat is much like Kit in that he is feisty and quick-tempered. He too must learn that it is often better to obey authority when it is not in outright wrong, even when he doesn’t agree with it. But when Kit is in trouble, he risks his own punishment to attempt to save her.
Prudence transforms from a skittish, quiet child, to a bold, well-spoken, and poised young girl through the help of Nat, Kit, and Hannah.
Conclusion
Nat compares Kit to a brightly colored parrot trying to fit in amongst sparrows. She’s been raised in a different lifestyle than the Puritans, brought up to esteem different values. Of course, some of her parrot-ness is better off replaced by a few sparrow feathers. But she learns how to keep some of her best brightly colored feathers and teach the New Englanders how to reassess their values and traditions.
I love The Witch of Blackbird Pond for the way it challenges the common ideas of the 1600s, the loving friendships, and the sweet romances. This story shows the ignorance behind some of the ideas that the people behind the witch trials held, the way both Puritans and Quakers tried to truly live their faith, and the importance of loyalty to one’s values.
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