Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in Fever 1793, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Freedom and Independence
Mothers, Daughters, and Familial Love
Disaster and Human Nature
Ingenuity, Ambition, and Survival
Summary
Analysis
The next morning, Eliza shakes Mattie awake. She’s brought Dr. Kerr, an educated Scottish doctor, to examine Mother. Dr. Kerr examines Lucille and growls that Rowley is a “damned fool” and an “imposter.” Lucille undoubtedly has yellow fever. Mattie can’t breathe. “Mother,” she thinks, “wouldn’t allow it […] Mother would beat back illness with a broom.”
Mother finally gets a correct diagnosis from a real physician. However, it’s completely unfathomable to Mattie—she imagines her mother to be more powerful than any disease.
Themes
Dr. Kerr says that Lucille must be bled; Dr. Rush has proven that this is the only way a yellow fever patient can be saved—the bleeding drains “the poison” from her body. Mattie feels faint as Dr. Kerr hands her a basin. They have to fill a second basin, and Mattie “clenched [her] jaw and stood firm.” Dr. Kerr ultimately takes 10 ounces of blood. He also leaves jalap and calomel to help purge Lucille’s system.
Draining blood from the sick, as well as using purgatives like jalap (a root) and calomel (a mineral), were standard methods of treatment at the time, but they were based on an inaccurate understanding of the source and spread of disease. These treatments were likely doing nothing to heal Lucille (and were more likely weakening her).
Themes
Lucille stirs and wakes to see Mattie. She points at Mattie and whispers, “Out!” before beginning to cough. Dr. Kerr leads Mattie downstairs, assuring Mattie that Lucille is a strong woman. Downstairs, he tells Grandfather that Mattie must be sent out of the city. Mattie stamps in frustration, wanting to stay and help, but Dr. Kerr says that the city is turning mad, and that no other towns will accept a fever victim. Trying to smile, Grandfather tells Mattie that they’ll “make it an adventure.”
As traumatic as her mother’s illness has been for Mattie, her stubbornness, loyalty, and courage show through in her determination to remain behind and help. Leaving Philadelphia will pose its own obstacles, as outlying towns are beginning to block potential fever victims from passing through and spreading the epidemic.
Themes
Despite Mattie’s protests, Grandfather heads off to find a coach to get them out of town. Eliza, too, is resolute. As she starts packing a basket of food for their journey, she hands Mattie a package that’s been left for her. It’s a painting of a vase filled with bright, delicate flowers. Enclosed is a note from Nathaniel Benson, explaining that Master Peale is closing up his family and assistants inside the house until the sickness passes. He tells Mattie to take care and promises that someday they’ll watch balloons together again.
Nathaniel thinks of Mattie in crisis, showing his love for her, but he’s effectively sealed away for the time being—showing he won’t be significant in the primary action and that Mattie really will be facing the epidemic on her own. The mention of Blanchard’s balloon, a symbol of the promise of freedom for Mattie, has a bittersweet note, since they can’t know if they’ll survive the disaster to see any future, much less a future together.
Themes
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The next morning, a horse and wagon arrive, both looking ready to collapse. A farmer sits in the wagon with his wife and child; Grandfather is in back. Eliza hugs Mattie goodbye and makes her promise to stay out of town until two hard frosts have passed. Mattie is tearful in her thanks, but Eliza says that by staying behind to help, she’s doing nothing more than Lucille would have done in her place. Grandfather dresses in his regimental jacket and sword for the trip, carrying King George the parrot on his shoulder. He salutes and offers his arm to Mattie. They board the wagon, and the farmer drives away from the coffeehouse.
Grandfather comes to Mattie’s rescue and, with a playful note of irony, even dons the outfit for the role—perhaps showing a lingering inability to face the full scale of the disaster, but also a desire to cushion the experience for his beloved granddaughter. It’s an example of another way that human beings respond to crisis—showing love through humor. There’s a melancholy aspect to this scene, too, as it will prove to be one of Grandfather’s last “battles” in life, one that even a Revolutionary veteran is powerless to defeat.
Themes
