Eliza Character Analysis in Fever 1793

Eliza is the coffeehouse cook. She was born a slave in Virginia and moved to Philadelphia after her husband purchased her freedom. Before she could purchase her husband’s freedom in turn, he was killed by a runaway horse. Eliza is Mattie’s closest confidant. She indulges Mattie with good food and affection, but also pushes her to work hard when it’s necessary. She is steadfast in a crisis and works long hours as a volunteer for the Free African Society during the epidemic. Eliza lives with her widowed brother, Joseph, and her nephews, Robert and William. After Mattie invites Eliza to become her business partner at the coffeehouse, Eliza and her nephews move in with Mattie.

Eliza Quotes in Fever 1793

The Fever 1793 quotes below are all either spoken by Eliza or refer to Eliza. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:

Like most blacks in Philadelphia, Eliza was free. She said Philadelphia was the best city for freed slaves or freeborn Africans. The Quakers here didn’t hold with slavery and tried hard to convince others that slavery was against God’s will. Black people were treated different than white people, that was plain to see, but Eliza said nobody could tell her what to do or where to go, and no one would ever, ever beat her again.

Related Characters: Matilda “Mattie” Cook (speaker), Eliza

Page Number and Citation: 8

Explanation and Analysis:

“It is not yellow fever,” he said.

Grandfather sighed in relief.

“But Dr. Rush says yellow fever is spreading everywhere,” Eliza said.

“Dr. Rush likes to alarm people,” Mr. Rowley replied. “There is a great debate about this pestilence. Yesterday a physician I shall not name diagnosed yellow fever in an elderly woman. Her family threw her into the street. She died, but she didn’t have yellow fever. It was all a mistake. I use the diagnosis sparingly. And I assure you, there is no fever in this house.”

Related Characters: Mr. Rowley (speaker), Eliza (speaker), Captain William Farnsworth Cook (“Grandfather”), Lucille Cook (“Mother”)

Page Number and Citation: 65

Explanation and Analysis:

I fumbled with the tread of the hollow stair, then threw it to the side and lifted out the metal box. I opened the lid. It was still there, pence and shillings. Thank heaven for that.

I returned the box to its hiding place. It could be worse, I thought. The house is still standing. We’re alive. Mother and Eliza must be somewhere safe, I had to believe that. The fever would soon be over, and our lives would return to normal. I just had to stay clever and strong and find something to eat.

A tear surprised me by rolling down my cheek. “None of that, Mattie girl,” I whispered to myself as I scrubbed the tear away. “This is not the time to be childish.”

Related Characters: Matilda “Mattie” Cook (speaker), Eliza, Captain William Farnsworth Cook (“Grandfather”), Lucille Cook (“Mother”)

Page Number and Citation: 125

Explanation and Analysis:

Rev. Allen said this was a chance for black people to show we are every bit as good and important and useful as white people. The Society organized folks to visit the sick, to care for them and bury them if they died […] The Africans of Philadelphia have cared for thousands of people without taking notice of color. If only the doctors had been right, we could look to these days of suffering as days of hope.

Related Characters: Eliza (speaker), Matilda “Mattie” Cook, Reverend Richard Allen

Page Number and Citation: 176

Explanation and Analysis:

Eliza Character Timeline in Fever 1793

The timeline below shows where the character Eliza appears in Fever 1793. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

Mothers, Daughters, and Familial Love Theme Icon

Ingenuity, Ambition, and Survival Theme Icon

...in the spacious kitchen. Her family is just herself, Mother, and Grandfather, plus their employee, Eliza; together, they run the Cook Coffeehouse. Mattie’s father, a carpenter, had built their home and... (full context)

Eliza interrupts and offers Mattie breakfast; Mattie, as usual, is starving. Eliza’s fine cooking is a... (full context)

Like most black people in Philadelphia, Eliza is free. Eliza says that Philadelphia is the best city for freed slaves. This is... (full context)

Both Lucille and Eliza “supped sorrow with a big spoon,” but while Eliza eventually smiled again, Mother “turned sour.”... (full context)

...is late. She speculates that Polly is hanging around her crush, Matthew, the blacksmith’s son. Eliza suggests that Polly might be sick—there are rumors of sickness near the river. Mother says... (full context)

...and singing songs together while they churned butter. Mattie and Mother go inside and tell Eliza what happened. Mother says it’s strange that Polly, a robust girl, sickened and died so... (full context)

...refuses to discuss Nathaniel any further, and Grandfather agreeably helps her hang the washing. When Eliza comes by, Grandfather jokes that Mattie’s mother has reduced “the hero of Trenton and Germantown... (full context)

...she lets the seams out of Mattie’s only fancy gown. Mattie whimpers and sulks as Eliza brushes her hair. Mother says that with Mattie’s manners, it could take years to find... (full context)

...because many wealthier families are fleeing to the country. Everyone is worried and grumpy, even Eliza, who muses that there are ugly days ahead. Grandfather, on the other hand, thinks that... (full context)

...that Mother is alive. He gets Mattie to help him carry her into the coffeehouse. Eliza screams and drops a pitcher when she sees Lucille. Grandfather says that she has simply... (full context)

...biscuits, and quarrelsome customers. At the end of the day, Grandfather brings in Mr. Rowley. Eliza tells Mattie that Mr. Rowley isn’t “a proper physician, but he sees sick folk and... (full context)

Mattie doesn’t want to help Eliza give Mother a bath—it feels “upside down and backside front”—but it’s necessary. Every four hours,... (full context)

...violently vomiting blood, her eyes rolled back in her head. Mattie jumps up, screaming for Eliza. But Mattie is alone. She forces herself to soothe Mother and sponge her face. Mother... (full context)

The next morning, Eliza shakes Mattie awake. She’s brought Dr. Kerr, an educated Scottish doctor, to examine Mother. Dr.... (full context)

...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... (full context)

...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... (full context)

...George flying along after her. Mattie thinks of Mother and wishes she’d been strong like Eliza instead of crying while caring for her. She figures her mother sees her as weak,... (full context)

...and people who lost their sanity from sickness or grief. Mattie hears nothing of Nathaniel, Eliza, or her mother. (full context)

...God “deal with them as you see fit.” She asks God to watch over Mother, Eliza, Grandfather, and Nathaniel. (full context)

...of some men nearby. The taller of the two women looks familiar. Suddenly Mattie screams, “Eliza!” and starts running, with Nell clinging to her for dear life. One of the drunken... (full context)

...rolls were delivered by “Saints. Angels […] from the Free African Society,” and that Mattie’s Eliza might be one of them. Mattie runs back to the street and, thinking of no... (full context)

In Eliza’s embrace, Mattie is overcome with grief about Mother, Grandfather, and all her suffering. Eliza tells... (full context)

Eliza leads Mattie and Nell into Joseph’s small, tidy rooms above the cooperage. She explains that... (full context)

Eliza ladles stew for Mattie, but Mattie pours half of her serving back, saying that the... (full context)

Eliza watches Nell sleeping and tells Mattie that both she and Nell should probably go to... (full context)

After a silence, Mattie asks Eliza, “Are we going to die?” Eliza retorts that she can’t die; she has too much... (full context)

...courtyard while the children solemnly watch. By the time she’s washed the children, as well, Eliza has left for her Society duties, and Mother Smith has arrived to help. She criticizes... (full context)

Early the next morning, Mattie talks to Eliza about Nell. She agrees with Mother Smith that she has to think about Nell’s future.... (full context)

As Eliza, Nell, and Mattie walk to the orphan house, Mattie tries to distract herself from heartbreak,... (full context)

...dashes down the steps with Nell before the woman can change her mind. She tells Eliza that Nell needs someone who can comb her hair and tell her stories. Eliza agrees... (full context)

They pass the Ogilvie mansion, and Eliza tells Nell a story she’s heard about Colette Ogilvie. Colette almost died from the fever,... (full context)

Joseph and Eliza agree that Mattie shouldn’t return to the coffeehouse to live alone. Joseph is now strong... (full context)

...a dying mother surrounded by her children leaves Mattie in tears. But Mattie faithfully accompanies Eliza from dawn to dark. The heat and the fever persist, and Philadelphia is awash with... (full context)

One day Eliza is infuriated by the unjust prices charged by Mr. Barrett, the apothecary. She says that... (full context)

...The twins are panting on the bed; Nell is feverish, too. Seeing their condition, even Eliza is shaken. Mattie thinks about what to do. Her attention is drawn to the window,... (full context)

Mother Smith sends a mule cart to the cooperage, and Mattie and Eliza pack the twins and Nell securely inside. Mattie “asked my heart to be hard,” knowing... (full context)

At the coffeehouse, Mattie and Eliza wrestle the mattress inside and settle the children in the cooler front room. As Eliza... (full context)

Eliza wakes Mattie up a short time later, anxious about the children’s condition. Mattie reassures her:... (full context)

As the children’s condition worsens, Eliza frets that they should be bled. Mattie argues that even though Dr. Rush swears by... (full context)

...the brittle air and sees the sparkling yard, she realizes it’s real. She calls for Eliza, who stumbles into the yard in alarm. When Eliza realizes what’s happened, they jump up... (full context)

...including eggs, bread, and beef. Farmers are already returning to the city market. Mattie and Eliza slowly savor the food. Later, Mattie is awakened from a nap to find Eliza pushing... (full context)

The next morning Joseph visits. He immediately embraces all three children, and Mattie and Eliza weep. Joseph brings handmade toys for each child. He thanks Eliza and Mattie for saving... (full context)

...It felt like they were dancing on a grave,” compared to the gaunt, pale survivors. Eliza tells Mattie not to be bitter, but Mattie finds it hard. (full context)

Eliza suggests giving a small thanksgiving feast with Joseph and the twins. Mother Smith and Nathaniel... (full context)

...whom she can trust and who can keep her on the right path. She tells Eliza she wants her to be that partner. Eliza tells Mattie that she doesn’t have the... (full context)

When Eliza is hesitant, Mother Smith finally bangs her cane on the floor and insists that Eliza... (full context)

...sign for the front of the store. As he leaves for his work at Peale’s, Eliza concedes that Nathaniel is “useful, for a painter.” (full context)

...do so, the customers fall silent, and each man stands out of respect for Lucille. Eliza comes from the kitchen, crying, to embrace Lucille. She pours coffee for them all and... (full context)

...is still sleeping. Mattie lets her rest—she’d coughed late into the night. Across the hall, Eliza, Robert, and William are still sleeping, too. (full context)

Fever 1793

Eliza Character Analysis

Eliza Quotes in Fever 1793

Chapter 2 Quotes

Chapter 9 Quotes

Chapter 17 Quotes

Chapter 22 Quotes

Eliza Character Timeline in Fever 1793