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
A flustered Mr. Fletcher embraces Hope at the door, crying, “My precious child!” Governor Winthrop gives thanks for Hope’s deliverance, Aunt Grafton weeps, and Esther hugs her. Soon Hope learns about the explosion of Chaddock’s ship—the news has traveled around Boston. The explosion had distracted everyone from trying to pursue Magawisca after her escape. In addition, soon after everyone had gone to bed, Antonio knocked on the Winthrops’ door in desperation, having learned of the plot to kidnap Hope.
Everyone thinks that Hope, kidnapped by Sir Philip, might have been aboard Chaddock’s ship and been killed (as indeed might have happened, had Chaddock’s men not blundered into the wrong group of escapees in the dark). And it’s true, after all, that Antonio came to the Winthrops’ that night, though he wasn’t the so-called “Italian” for which the family mistook Oneco.
Themes
When it was discovered that Sir Philip and Rosa disappeared, Governor Winthrop recalled the packet of letters which Rosa had handed Sir Philip at the trial. He found these abandoned on Sir Philip’s table and broke the seal, learning from their contents that Sir Philip was linked to Thomas Morton, that he was Catholic, and that he had completely duped the Governor. Everyone briefly feared that Hope had fallen into this man’s clutches and now rejoice to learn that she is safe. After this, they discover Faith’s disappearance and, from this, figure out that the mysterious sailor was, in fact, Oneco. Nobody misses or cares about Jennet.
The packet of letters, forgotten at the curtailed trial, finally comes into play. It’s too late for Sir Philip to face justice from those he’s offended, but his emphatic end suggests that the wicked ultimately get what’s coming to them, one way or the other. The same goes for Jennet.
Themes
Hope mourns over Faith’s departure, but she knows her sister will finally be happy. Governor Winthrop, likewise, cannot be bothered to chase her down. Magawisca is reunited with her father, whose spirits are renewed, and who then leads the small remnant of the Pequot people to safety in the western forests.
Loose ends begin to be tied up, and displaced characters find the homes where they can best belong.
Themes
Literary Devices
Before going to sleep that night, Hope tells Esther about the whole adventure and is surprised that, given her own scruples about freeing Magawisca, Esther does not appear displeased. In fact, she embraces Hope, looking completely at peace. Hope feels ashamed.
Hope assumes that, since Esther’s conscience would not let her defy authority herself, she wouldn’t approve of Hope doing so. Yet, beyond that, Esther even appears to be reconciled to Hope’s apparent love for Everell, which Hope feels is illicit (they can’t be married).
Themes
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Meanwhile, at the jail, Barnaby Tuttle learns how he’s been tricked. When he takes Everell to Magawisca’s old cell, they find Cradock sound asleep. Tuttle cannot resent Hope for hoodwinking him. Governor Winthrop, distracted by a brewing war between Miantunnomoh‘s Narragansetts and other regional tribes, does not make a big deal of their deceit, either. After all, if Magawisca had been condemned under English laws, the American Indians might have allied to fight on her behalf.
Magawisca, in other words, has spared the colonial government a lot of political trouble by running away. For the governor, it’s better to let intertribal conflicts play out and remain uninvolved.
Themes
The next morning, Winthrop meets with the other magistrates, and they agree that though Everell and Hope acted very rashly, God appears to have brought about good through their actions. They conclude that Hope and Master Cradock should be privately admonished and freely pardoned, and that Everell should receive a public censure.
The wrongdoers all get off with very mild sentences, though it’s easy to wonder if this would have been the case if not for close relationships with Winthrop and the political advantages gained thereby.
Themes
After these deliberations, everyone joins together at the breakfast table. Everyone except Hope, who has overslept after the events of last night. She notices that some of Esther’s things are missing from their room and rushes downstairs to find out where she is. After breakfast, Madam Winthrop finally gives Hope a letter, which she and Everell have been instructed to read together. It’s from Esther. The letter explains that Esther has returned to England in order to remove the last obstacle from her friends’ happiness. She has found contentment, repenting of her past pride and silliness and now glad to embrace Everell as a brother. Hope weeps in Mr. Fletcher’s arms after reading the letter; he rejoices that his dreams for his children are coming true.
The last loose strands of the story are tied up as Everell’s and Hope’s union becomes possible, thanks to Esther’s unselfishness. Esther, despite being perhaps the meekest character in the story, finds a voice as well, even if it’s quietly voiced in her absence, and even if her primary action is to remove herself from a situation, at the cost of her own happiness.
Themes
Jennet’s and Rosa’s bodies were recovered from the explosion and buried, though Sir Philip’s was never found. The narrator leaves it to “that large, and most indulgent class of our readers, the misses in their teens,” to imagine what Hope’s and Everell’s wedding was like. Mr. Fletcher lived happily ever after with the two of them, as did Aunt Grafton and Master Cradock. Digby prides himself on having foreseen this marriage, and Barnaby retires to a happy life as a grandfather and versifier of psalms.
Sedgwick appears to have envisioned her readership as consisting primarily of teenaged girls—perhaps not surprising given the love triangle and dramatics in the latter half of the book. Yet she also seems to have believed that her arguments about race and religion would be valuable to such a readership, too—in line with her views about women’s powerful behind-the-scenes influence.
Themes
Literary Devices
Esther Downing never marries, but she enjoys a lifelong, tender friendship with Everell and Hope, and many are made happier because of Esther’s kindness and generous piety. The narrator concludes that many women would be happier if they could learn, like Esther, that marriage is not essential to a woman’s dignity or happiness.
Interestingly, of all morals she could emphasize, Sedgwick chooses to conclude the book by praising Esther, particularly her “spinster” condition in life—perhaps a reflection of Sedgwick’s own biography, as well as an encouragement to female readers to follow their own course, no matter whether they’re more like Hope Leslie or Esther.
Themes
