(Book Cover Source: http://www.biblio.com/isbn/9780440495963.html, accessed November 8, 2008)BIBLIOGRAPHY:
Speare, Elizabeth George. 1958. The witch of Blackbird Pond. New York: Dell Publishing. ISBN 0440495962
2. PLOT SUMMARY:
The Witch of Blackbird Pond, Elizabeth George Speare's second historical novel, was the 1959 winner of the Newbery Medal. Set in 1687, in the Puritan Connecticut Colony, it is the story of Katherine ("Kit") Tyler, a sixteen-year-old young woman, raised by her grandfather in Barbados, who must leave when he dies, to seek out relatives she has never met. The story opens as Kit is traveling by ship to Wethersfield, Connecticut where her relatives live. An impetuous young woman, Kit subsequently careens from one event to the next - leaping over the side of a boat to rescue a child's doll (incurring suspicion of witchcraft by her ability to swim), surprising her relatives who don't know she is coming, speaking her mind in a rigidly austere community, befriending a lonely, outcast, Quaker woman known as "The Witch of Blackbird Pond," continuing to visit the woman after being ordered not to do so, and secretly teaching a young girl to read - all of which ultimately lead to an accusation that she, herself, is a witch. A dramatic trial ensues, and Kit is eventually found innocent. In addition to the main plot, other subplots include courtships of Kit and her two cousins, Judith and Mercy, which illuminate values and rituals of the times, the conflict between colonists defending the Connecticut Charter and loyalists to King James, commentary about slavery, and commentary about religious beliefs, including Puritan, Quaker, and more traditional beliefs. Many of the customs and day-to-day activities of the times are described, including medical remedies. The juxtaposition of Kit's memories of her wealthy, independent childhood in sunny Barbados with her new, harsh circumstances in Connecticut, both physically and emotionally, are particularly well-described. Ultimately, through the culmination of these experiences, Kit learns valuable lessons about tolerance, loyalty, love, and self-determination. The story concludes with her happy anticipation of marriage to Nat Eaton, a young sea captain who first transported her to Connecticut on his father's ship. She looks forward to the best of both worlds: visits to her beloved Barbados, and a home with roots in the community among people she has grown to love.
Following the conclusion of the story is an Author's Note, in which Speare delineated which parts of the book were fictitious, and which actually existed. Interestingly, the setting of the Great Meadows still existed at the time Speare wrote the Note. While Kit and her family were fictitious, several male characters mentioned in the story were actual historical figures, including the Royal Governor, Sir Edmond Andros, Captain Samuel Talcott the magistrate, and Reverend Gersholm Bulkeley..
3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Although it was published fifty years ago, The Witch of Blackbird Pond has not faded into obscurity. This is partly due to its Newbery Award status, but mostly because the issues it explores continue to be freshly relevant in our modern times. These issues include tolerance of cultural and religious differences, women's role in society, and the importance of education, freedom, and justice. In addition, its historical focus on colonial events and issues like slavery make it a useful educational tool. A quick search on the Internet yields countless schools using it in conjunction with their curricula.
More specifically, Speare's detailed descriptions of the setting and customs of 17th Century Connecticut bring them to life for the reader. Although the story is laced with descriptions of activities like candle-making, a husking bee, and Sunday Meetings, they never bog down the flow of the plot.
Characters are complex and well-developed - gray, rather than merely black or white. Much of the book finds Kit reflecting upon their contradictory behavior to discern how she really feels about them. Kit also spends quite a bit of time reflecting upon her own behavior - usually ruing her impulsive decisions. Examples abound, as when Speare writes, "Her high spirits plunged. She had made herself ridiculous. How many times had her grandfather cautioned her to think before she flew off the handle?" However, modern readers will most likely feel sympathy toward Kit's struggle to live under the restraints of the stern, Puritan lifestyle. Speare's tone is sympathetic, as when she writes of Kit's first day with her new family, "Father has no intention of sending you back. You will just have to prove to him that you can be useful here. By the end of that first day the word useful had taken on an alarming meaning. Work in that household never ceased, and it called for skill and patience, qualities Kit did not seem to possess." Speare also writes with humor and affection for Kit, as when she notes, "If only patience were contagious like mumps" and "Between trying to hold up her head confidently and at the same time find a place to set down her dainty kid shoes between the slimy ruts and the mud puddles, Kit had all she could tend to."
Speare's vivid use of metaphor and simile make the story a pleasure to read, as when she writes, "The cold measured words fell like so many stones into the quiet room" and "The one small room the house contained was scoured as a sea shell." Other examples include, "The evidence rolled against her like a dark wave" and "She snatched at the dream that had comforted her for so long. It was faded and thin, like a letter too often read."
Speare also uses foreshadowing to good affect, to heighten suspense throughout the book. For example, she writes, "Kit would remember many times the picture she carried with her along the darkening road. Was there some premonition, she would wonder, that made that moment so poignant, some foreknowledge that this was the last afternoon the three would ever spend together in the small cottage?"
Because of the era when the book was written, one weakness is the way in which minorities are depicted. Native Americans are never shown in positive ways, but rather as enemies who scalp their victims. They are often referred to as "savages," as when Speare describes Kit's journey to rescue Hannah as "skirting the square, darting from tree to tree like a savage, she made her way down Broad Street." When Kit is describing how she paid for her passage to Connecticut, she says, "To pay my way on the ship I had to sell my own Negro girl." While this reflects the lack of sensitivity still prominent in the 1950s, it would be important to explain to students the context in which these statements were written, as well as the more respectful views held today.
While historical details appear to be well-researched, authenticity with respect to dialogue appears to be less true to the time period. With the exception of Hannah's character, the speech in the book is very similar to our modern dialect. This is an era where the language is more similar to Shakespeare's than our own. Anyone who has read historical documents from revolutionary America knows that speech patterns differed from ours. While Speare has thrown in an occasional "'Tis," for the most part, the dialogue could be from 1950's America. Hannah's speech is sprinkled with "thee" and "thy," but otherwise, also resembles modern English. Knowing she was writing for children, Speare may have made this compromise in order to ease comprehension and make the work more accessible to her readers.
On a personal note, I thoroughly enjoyed the book. The extensive historical details were fascinating, and the complex characters were intriguing. Kit's gruff, but caring, Uncle Matthew was a favorite, and watching Kit's character mature and grow was very satisfying. The plot is suspenseful, and the themes are universal.
The only thing I don't care for about the book is the lack of background information regarding the Puritan and Quaker religions. If one knows nothing about the context from which they arose, it is easy to view them in a negative light as they are portrayed in this story. The austere Puritan lifestyle will seem needlessly harsh to modern readers. Hannah's branding and banishment makes it seem like Quakers must be truly awful people. Although Kit befriends her and demonstrates tolerance, I wish Speare would have included a brief explanation that would let young readers know that Quakers were/are not agents of the devil. While I would definitely recommend this book to modern readers, I would hope there would be an opportunity to discuss the missing background information, too.
4. REVIEW EXCERPTS:
Booklist: "Strong plot, fully-realized characters, and convincing atmosphere distinguish this historical narrative of a girl whose rebellion against bigotry and her Puritan surroundings culminates in a witch hunt and trial."
The New York Times: "This book has a lively plot and excellent characterizations. The background has every dimension of reality."
School Library Journal: "An excellent choice . . . whether as an enrichment to the social studies curriculum or purely for pleasure."
5. CONNECTIONS:
Due to its length and difficulty level, this book is most suited to upper elementary children or higher. Topics such as witchcraft, marking people with branding irons, and hangings also make this unsuitable for younger readers. Like Catherine, Called Birdy, this title would also be a wonderful way to bring history alive for students. Those interested in history, or stories about strong female characters might find it particularly interesting. In addition to use with individual students, it might also be used:
* In conjunction with a history class studying colonial America or witchcraft trials.
*In conjunction with a student's independent, in-depth study for a project on colonial America or witchcraft.
*In conjunction with a literature course studying historical fiction.
*If a student or teacher were looking for other historical titles by Elizabeth George Speare, they could be directed to the following:
Speare, Elizabeth George. The bronze bow. ISBN 0395137195
Speare, Elizabeth George. Calico captive. ISBN 0618150765
Speare, Elizabeth George. The sign of the beaver. ISBN 0440479002
*Finally, for those looking to read more about witch hunts and trials, recommended titles might include:
Aronson, Marc. Witch-hunt: mysteries of the Salem witch trials. ISBN 1416903151
Von Zumbusch, Amelie. The true story of the Salem witch hunts. ISBN 1404244794
Yolen, Jane, and Stemple, Heidi Elisabet. The Salem witch trials: an unsolved mystery from history. ISBN 0689846207
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