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
On a beautiful summer day, a crowd gathers for Magawisca’s trial. When Magawisca is led into the courtroom, she is accompanied by a benevolent-looking man whom Everell learns is John Eliot. Magawisca has a queenly, composed expression, and she wears her own clothing instead of borrowed English dress.
Eliot is believed to have been the first Protestant missionary to the American Indians, spending half a century among them and remaining a tireless advocate for their interests, even during times of conflict with colonists. Sedgwick appropriates the figure of Eliot as someone who would show Magawisca sympathy.
Themes
Magawisca insists on standing when she’s led to the defendant’s seat. Everell finds himself pushing through the crowd in order to stand next to her. Eliot prays for the proceedings, recalling in his prayer the many kindly actions of American Indians toward white settlers, including Monoca’s goodness and Magawisca’s own heroic act toward Everell. He prays for mercy toward the defendant. After he’s done, many look more compassionately toward Magawisca. Governor Winthrop outlines the charges against Magawisca, and then asks Sir Philip to testify about what he’d overheard regarding a so-called Indian conspiracy while eavesdropping on Magawisca and Hope.
Magawisca maintains self-respect and composure in the midst of a situation where she is the only American Indian in the midst of a potentially hostile crowd. Eliot takes her side by rehearsing, through the medium of prayer, the truth that American Indians have often shown great kindness to those who outnumbered and overpowered them—a tactic that has the intended effect of helping the crowd think differently about their history, and therefore look more favorably on the defendant.
Themes
Literary Devices
Magawisca gives Sir Philip a piercing look as he stands up, and he cringes. Rosa brings forward a packet of letters, which Sir Philip places before the governor. Sir Philip senses that popular sentiment has shifted in favor of Magawisca. He knows he could be in big trouble if his relationship with Rosa is disclosed, so he decides to try to discredit Magawisca.
Sir Philip does have a conscience—Magawisca’s nobility reminds him of it by sheer contrast. However, it’s not enough to override his self-serving wickedness. The evidence contained in the packet of letters, disregarded for the time being, will become significant later in the story.
Themes
After describing the scene in the graveyard, Sir Philip claims that, later that night, he saw Magawisca engaged in “devil-worship” in the cemetery, seeking demonic aid for revenge against the English. Upon hearing this testimony, opinion shifts against Magawisca, though she remains impassive. Everell and Eliot whisper encouragement to her, and Magawisca denies that the English have authority to judge her. She says that she has no fear about following her people to the future world. The magistrates’ response is mixed, with some repudiating her “heathenism” and others saying they can’t condemn her on this basis. Governor Winthrop observes that Sir Philip’s testimony isn’t consistent with what he's previously stated in private.
Sir Philip boldly avails himself of contemporary prejudices about American Indians, an easy way to secure Magawisca’s condemnation (for treason, no less) and his own advantage. However, not everyone is so easily swayed against her.
Themes
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When Sir Philip argues that he wasn’t under oath before, the Governor points out that he isn’t now, but that Magawisca can request that he be placed under oath. She does. As Sir Philip does so, Magawisca withdraws a crucifix from her mantle, to everyone’s astonishment. She addresses Sir Philip directly, saying that during his visit to her prison cell, he had attributed sacred powers to the object. The blushing knight denies this. Eliot speaks up in defense of Magawisca’s right to provide further testimony. Suddenly it seems as if Sir Philip, not Magawisca, is on trial.
Though the dynamic has been shifting against Magawisca, she shows she isn’t the only one who has the power to quickly turn the tide of opinion in her own favor. The mere possession of a crucifix—a Roman Catholic symbol—is powerful evidence that Sir Philip is not who he’s been claiming to be, and his Catholicism would no be tolerated in the Puritan colony.
Themes
When Magawisca is permitted to speak further, she falters, then requests that Rosa be allowed to leave. When Rosa notices everyone staring at her, she clings to Sir Philip’s cloak, and he kicks her. A murmur of indignation runs through the meetinghouse. Rosa runs away. Sir Philip says that he would be glad to clear up these details in a private interview, and the Governor decides that Magawisca’s trial must be suspended until the magistrates are able to meet again in one month. Magawisca, however, begs that she be put to death now, rather than being made to wait in captivity.
Magawisca, seemingly unflappable, only hesitates when her testimony risks implicating Rosa—a figure even more vulnerable than herself—showing her noble-heartedness. Her choice to speak up pays off, since it reveals a bit of Sir Philip’s cruel nature and results in a postponement of judgment. This wasn’t her object, however—imprisonment is torment to Magawisca, and she seeks a way out.
Themes
Magawisca goes on to say that they don’t need Sir Philip’s word to prove that she is their enemy—a white person and an Indian cannot be friends. Sending her back to the dungeon will just be a way of killing her by less direct means. As she kneels before the Governor in supplication, her mutilated arm is revealed. She begs for death or liberty, and Everell and the crowd begin chanting for “liberty.” Even Governor Winthrop is moved to tears.
Magawisca doesn’t believe that, given the enduring conflict between American Indians and colonists and its culmination in this trial, interracial friendship is ultimately possible. The sight of her mangled arm is symbolic of this belief, recalling her being caught between Everell and her father.
Themes
Finally Governor Winthrop says that he cannot grant her liberty right now, but he will fulfill his promise to Monoca to show Magawisca kindness, as far as he is able. Everell whispers that he, too, will help her, and Magawisca is comforted. She is led back to jail, leaving the crowd with “a strange contrariety of opinion and feelings.” Sir Philip is ordered to meet with the Governor in private.
Magawisca’s courage helps her win clemency from the Governor and from the community at large, though Everell’s loyalty means the most to her. The “strange contrariety” suggests that the people’s objective conviction about American Indians is often at odds with what the feel in their hearts.
Themes
