Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in Across Five Aprils, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Coming of Age
The Realities of War
Self-Determination
Personal Conviction
Hardship, Suffering, and Beauty
Summary
Analysis
Two key victories for the Union Army occur in February 1862 under the leadership of General Ulysses S. Grant, whose forces take over Fort Henry in Tennessee and Fort Donelson in Kentucky. As Grant’s star rises, the reputation of General McClellan, so celebrated at the beginning of the war, falls. Nevertheless, Matthew Creighton fears that the war is far from over. The Creighton family worries about Tom and Eb, who they think likely to have seen action with Grant’s forces in Tennessee. And the story of Fort Henry—where Grant prevailed against his former classmate from military school, Confederate General Buckner—offers a painful reminder of the rift in their own family that Bill’s decision to join the rebels caused.
As Jethro follows the news of the war in the papers, he considers the personal character of McClellan, an early star whose reputation eventually fades, and Grant, who rises from near obscurity to prominence (and who will ultimately lead the Union forces to victory). Although they fight for different sides, Grant and Jethro’s brother Bill share a sense of conviction that sees them following through regardless of whether their choices are popular. Jethro watches—and absorbs—these lessons closely.
Themes
One day, the Creightons’ neighbor, Ed Turner, delivers a letter from Tom. Only Ellen and Jethro are home at the time, and Jethro must read the letter to his illiterate mother. Tom and Eb fought at both Fort Henry and Fort Donelson, where tragedy befell the Union troops despite their victory. A warm turn in the weather led many troops, including Tom, to discard their heavy winter coats and blankets to lighten the load they carried. But then a sudden snowstorm struck; sick and previously injured “boys” then died of exposure. Ellen, clearly distraught over the letter, retreats to the pantry for a while, leaving Jethro to reread the paper and imagine the events it describes.
Tom’s letter delivers a harsh reminder of the horror war unleashes. Even as people in the North celebrate victories at Henry and Donelson, many Union soldiers died in those battles or in the coincidental snowstorm. Victory still comes at terrible human cost. Moreover, the letter highlights the youth and inexperience of the young soldiers, too silly to hold on to their warm gear in the temporary warm weather.
Themes
After a while, Ellen returns. Fearing she won’t be good company, she suggests Jethro visit Shad that evening. Jethro, eager to see his teacher and friend, hurries to complete his evening chores. While he’s in the barn, Jenny comes out with tears in her eyes. She’s read the letter from Tom. And she’s frustrated that the war is taking Shad away from her before Matthew allows that she’s old enough to marry him. Once, Jethro might have teased Jenny about her feelings. But there’s no teasing with Shad’s imminent departure looming.
Jenny and Ellen visibly show their distress over the letter with tears. Jethro doesn’t, but just because Jethro has internalized Bill’s lesson about not wasting tears over unchangeable events doesn’t mean he isn’t upset or aware of the human costs of the war. And Matt’s ongoing refusal to allow Jenny and Shad to marry—which compromises their self-determination—increases Jenny’s anguish.
Themes
Ellen and Jenny bundle Jethro against the cold with much fuss, then they send him down to the schoolhouse, bearing Tom’s letter and a loaf of fresh bread. Bitterly cold wind whips Jethro’s face while he walks, but he accepts the discomfort as part of his life; his mother’s religious instruction has taught him that all hardships have a purpose. Still, he’s grateful to arrive at Shad’s cozy and welcoming home, a one-room addition to the schoolhouse. Shad brings Jethro inside and tucks him into a chair near the fireplace to warm up.
The walk to the schoolhouse offers yet another reminder of how harsh life can be on the prairies in the mid-19th century. Still, Jethro accepts this hardship as part of life and protects his heart from hardening by focusing on the good and beautiful things in life, like Shad’s warm and cozy home or the chance he has to spend time with his friend and teacher.
Themes
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Shad talks to Jethro like an equal, making him feel “as proud as a man.” When Shad asks after Jenny, Jethro extends his mother’s invitation for Shad to join the Creightons for dinner the next day. Shad briefly complains about Matt’s “tyrannical” refusal to let the young couple marry; although Shad agrees that Jenny is young, his departure for the Union Army may very well deprive them of the chance to marry in the future. Unlike Tom and Eb, Shad doesn’t seem eager to join the war, and Jethro asks if he must. Shad replies that he feels a sense of responsibility, although he wishes the simmering tensions that caused the war hadn’t come to a head just as he and his generation reached manhood.
Shad labels Matt’s refusal to allow Jenny’s marriage “tyrannical” because it limits her ability to make her own choices about her life—the very self-determination that lies at the heart of the Civil War conflict and which animates so much of American life. Still, he recognizes that sometimes the greater good requires people to put their own desires to the side, at least temporarily, as he himself must do in this moment by joining the Union Army. Shad treats Jethro like an adult, foreshadowing the responsibilities Jethro will take on when the rest of the older men—Shad and John—leave the farm. But Shad also contributes to Jethro’s maturation by talking to him as an equal and thus helping him to understand the costs of the war.
Themes
Jethro offers the opinion he’s heard from others that the Union might win soon. Shad does not share their empty optimism, despite the recent victories at Forts Henry and Donelson. This reminds Jethro to share Tom’s letter. While the teacher reads it, Jethro considers the young soldiers frozen beneath the snow at Fort Donelson and feels suddenly guilty over the comfort he enjoys in Shad’s warm, cozy house. Jethro asks Shad why everyone feels excited about recent Union victories, and Shad clarifies that, although they won’t turn the tide of war alone, they were important. He sketches a map of the states with their main rivers and railroads and the Confederate line. Taking the two forts allowed the Union Army to compromise the Confederates’ supply routes and make an important step toward breaking the Confederate line. But the map also helps Jethro see how much fighting remains.
Shad offers Jethro two other important lessons: how to think critically and how to think for himself rather than just repeat what he hears from others. Shad suggests that projections for a swift end to the war represent wishful thinking on the part of ill-informed, impatient Northerners. For those willing or able to look beyond individual newspaper accounts of single battles and consider the outlines of the entire war, Union victory seems possible but not at all easy. And finally, recognizing how lucky he is to sit by a warm fire with Shad reminds Jethro to be grateful for the blessings that life promises to no one.
Themes
At least, Jethro reminds Shad, the Union Army has General Grant in the west. Shad, like many others, placed early faith in General McClellan, but he now faces the fact that the eastern forces, under his leadership, don’t seem to be making much progress. He wonders how McClellan’s choices strike the president. Jethro replies that “Ol’ Abe” has enough troubles to worry about, and Shad quickly rebukes him for his use of such a familiar name for a man who should command the boy’s respect. This stings Jethro, who meant no disrespect, unlike many others—including people in their neighborhood—who attack the president in the newspapers and in conversations. Shad, too, feels positive about Lincoln, even though the president’s actions and policies sometimes confuse or anger him.
Not only has the war split the Creighton brothers between North and South, but Shad will serve in another army altogether since he must return to his home state of Pennsylvania to enlist. Structurally, this allows the novel to follow the western and eastern fronts of the Union effort—with John, Eb, and Tom serving under General Grant, and Shad serving under General McClellan. This will focus Jethro’s attention more closely on these generals as potential role models. And on the topic of role models, Shad insists on respect for President Lincoln, even when Jethro—or anyone else, especially including Union soldiers—disagrees with Lincoln’s choices; rebellion against authority caused this war, and Shad will not allow Jethro to disrespect authority himself.
Themes
Jethro confesses that he’d like to meet the president, if only to explain about his brother Bill. Shad reminds Jethro that Bill acted according to his beliefs, even if his idea of “right” isn’t the same as Matt’s, John’s, or Shad’s. And acting on his convictions, even when they put him at odds with his community and family, took greater courage than joining up with the Union Army like Tom, Eb, Shad, and John; Shad wants Jethro to remember that no matter what anyone says about Bill. Then he declares that they have let themselves get too sad with all this talk. It’s time to eat.
Jethro’s desire to take his concerns straight to the president implies the degree to which he trusts Lincoln’s judgment; it also foreshadows actions that Jethro will take in later chapters. Still, on the topic of Bill, Shad reminds Jethro that it’s more important to follow one’s conscience than whether this conscience leads in the right direction or not. Crucially, he reminds Jethro that being an adult means standing up for your beliefs and accepting their consequences. Shad’s words will carry Jethro through several challenging moments to come when he must learn to stand up for what he believes in.
Themes
Jethro’s cheer returns as Shad impersonates classroom characters and they eat good, warm food. He promises Shad he’ll remember this night for a long time. Shad, in turn, promises that Jethro can look forward to many nights like this with him and Jenny after the war. They plan to help Jethro get a good education—maybe even including college. To keep up on their studies, Shad wants Jethro and Jenny to read the newspapers and some books he’s leaving for them in his absence.
Despite the hardship and real dangers that the war presents, Shad refuses to lose hope for a brighter future. His picture of life after the war, which includes both Jenny and Jethro, gives the Jethro something to look forward to and quietly reminds him that he must not let hardship and suffering dull his soul to the beauty and love around him.
Themes
After the meal, Shad takes down his guitar. He and Jethro sing a song from Ellen’s Kentucky childhood. The words are strange, distorted from traveling mouth to mouth through the generations. Jethro tells Shad that Ellen’s elders thought it “witch-talk.” Shad incredulously replies that witches provide a convenient explanation for bad occurrences. He won’t deny that the Kentucky hill-folk have a right to their own beliefs on such matters, but he feels scorn for people willing to hurt or kill others out of suspicion and fear alone without any proof. Jethro nods, and the pair sit looking into the fire. Shad absent-mindedly strums his guitar until Jethro begins to drift off to sleep. Shad tucks him into bed, where Jethro inwardly considers the day’s events before falling asleep.
The idea of religious zealots condemning others to death and destruction out of misunderstanding suggests the importance of developing nuanced understandings of issues. Shad’s disregard for such people suggests the shamefulness of parroting half-true (or downright false) beliefs without first examining the situation for themselves. In the next chapter, Jethro will encounter people who do exactly that and who will be shown to be just as ignoble as the Kentucky hill folk Shad disparages.
Themes
