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
Jennet’s whispers to Sir Philip revealed, of course, Hope’s and Everell’s plan for Magawisca’s release. She overheard that Hope and Magawisca would be passing through a deserted part of town to meet Everell, who would be waiting with a boat to whisk Magawisca to safety. Sir Philip knows that Chaddock’s vessel is still anchored in the bay. He believes he can persuade the pirate to help him.
The lighthearted innocence of Hope’s plan contrasts with the much darker tone of what Sir Philip and Jennet conspire to do. While Hope enlists the assistance of her bumbling tutor, Sir Philip resorts to criminal activity.
Themes
Sir Philip arranges for the abduction of Hope by Chaddock and four of his crew and, with Rosa, heads for the ship that night. It’s a dark night, but Sir Philip assures Chaddock that he won’t mistake Hope’s identity; she will be accompanied by a disguised companion (Magawisca) who’s half a head taller. Chaddock is eager to comply. Sir Philip urges Chaddock to be kind to his captive.
Sir Philip’s plan is shocking in its potential for violence, yet Sir Philip’s history of lying and abusing others—as well as his reluctance to get his own hands dirty in the process—makes his actions unsurprising by this point in his development.
Themes
Waiting with Sir Philip at the ship, Rosa alternately curses and prays for Hope. In the end, she prays that the innocent would be spared. Her words strike Sir Philip as unnervingly prophetic, and he hushes her. He says that he is confident that “a potent alchymy […] in the hearts of you women” will eventually win Hope’s heart, even if she initially hates him for having her kidnapped. Rosa refuses to ever be Hope’s serving maid, even when Sir Philip implies that if she does her part, he’ll still channel some of his affection her way.
Rosa is engaged in a difficult internal struggle, still in love with Sir Philip and accordingly resentful of Hope, yet not wanting Hope to suffer her own fate. Her better side appears to win out. Sir Philip, though, is ever more repulsive, not least in his assumptions about women—assuming that both Hope and Rosa will come around to him, no matter how appallingly he treats them.
Themes
Sir Philip waits in anxious discomfort past ten o’clock, at which point he finally sees a boat rapidly rowing nearer, with a female passenger aboard. The captain reports that Antonio, who had been among the crew, has fled and probably alerted others of their plan. They must hurry out to sea. Sir Philip is shocked to see that the woman has been hooded and gagged; he can’t see her face. In a whisper, he asks her pardon and promises that she will be the queen of the ship.
At this point, the reader might assume that Antonio was indeed the character who showed up at the Winthrops’ door earlier that evening, but Sedgwick is simply adding a layer of complication to the climax. The woman’s identity is intentionally obscured, too, adding to the building drama.
Themes
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Sir Philip conducts the woman toward the ship, noticing a carelessly uncovered barrel of gunpowder as they go. He warns Rosa, who’s carrying a lantern, not to get too close to it. When none of the sailors comes to help, he tells Rosa to cover the barrel. Rosa hesitates, then, as Sir Philip is distracted in trying to unmask the apparently fainting woman, Rosa runs toward the gunpower keg and throws her lamp into it, crying, “It cannot be worse for any of us!” The ship and all present are instantly blown up.
Rosa’s tragedy concludes with her suicide, taking everyone aboard Chaddock’s ship (and, seemingly, both Sir Philip and Hope) with her. Yet, for better or worse, she also gets to have the last word in this part of the drama—effectively deciding her own fate and that of her tormentor. Thus Sedgwick gives one of the most downtrodden women in the story her own (and very conclusive) act of initiative.
Themes
