Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in Hope Leslie, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Religious Conflict and Tolerance
Interracial Relationships
Violence and Historical Memory
Women’s Roles
The Puritan Heritage
Summary
Analysis
Back at Governor Winthrop’s, everyone is alarmed by Hope’s absence. The moonlit night gives way to a sudden spring thunderstorm. Just as Everell is panicking, Hope, pale and trembling, arrives home wrapped in Sir Philip’s cloak. Everell help her out of the sodden garment, but before Hope can escape to her room, the rest of the household pours out of the parlor with expressions of concern and demands for an explanation.
The juxtaposition between the previous scene and the present one is startling—how did Sir Philip enter the picture? Was Hope, so recently scornful of the man, meeting with him after all?
Themes
Compelled to enter the parlor to make apologies to Madam Winthrop, Hope tells the household that if she were to reveal the reason for her absence, it would be an offense against her own conscience. Governor Winthrop says that Saturday is considered to be part of the Sabbath, suitable only for “acts of mercy and devotion.” Further, Hope has taken liberties in violation of his authority, and discreditable to her guardian, Mr. Fletcher.
This time, Hope’s unexplained absence, in defiance of her host and guardian—on the eve of the Sabbath, no less—lands her in difficulties. Her independence comes across as a disregard for authority, as well as an irreligious act.
Themes
Hope, staring penitently at the floor, looks up with a flash of indignation and asks Mr. Fletcher if he believes her. He says he does. Madam Winthrop intercedes to get Hope out of her dripping clothes, and Hope gratefully retires to her room. Esther, Master Cradock, and Mrs. Grafton linger in the parlor, each speaking up in Hope’s defense. Everell, however, is silent. He feels troubled by Hope’s apparent association with Sir Philip, as if Hope’s lofty purity has been tarnished. He recalls her words about Esther earlier that day and concludes that Hope must have been trying to divert him. He is disappointed to think that Hope could love such a flattering, pretentious man, who has only his wealth to recommend him.
Following conscience is important to Hope, so when others don’t take her at her word, she takes it personally. Everell, too, reads Hope’s seemingly indiscreet behavior at face value, assuming she isn’t quite who he thinks she is—or at least she doesn’t belong on the pedestal he’s placed her on.
Themes
Meanwhile, Esther joins Hope in their room and looks at her expectantly, but Hope just continues changing out of her wet clothes. When Esther gently urges her friend to unburden her heart, Hope explains that others are involved, and she cannot risk violating their privacy. She doesn’t care what people think of her roaming about at night, except that Everell didn’t speak up in her defense—she is hurt by this.
Hope is reluctant even to confide in Esther. Her silence on this matter, especially given how outspoken she usually is, builds suspense. Sedgwick’s omission of the scene in the cemetery (for now) allows the reader to share in other characters’ puzzlement.
Themes
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Esther tells Hope that everyone owes deference to their superiors, and Hope groans that her friend is “a born preacher.” Advice, she says, should be “very carefully administered”; furthermore, she isn’t a machine, ready to submit to whomever happens to be older than herself. She tells Esther to pray for her, and they both go to sleep.
In contrast to her rule-following friend, Hope resists traditional expectations about authority and deference, or any idea that advice can be indiscriminately applied.
Themes
