Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in News of the World, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Fatherhood and Masculinity
American Multiculturalism and Racial Violence
News and Storytelling
Childhood and Innocence
War and Reconstruction
Summary
Analysis
Captain Kidd is happy that there’s good seating in the theater, which means people will want to stay longer. At the door there are two soldiers, since Texas is still under military rule. But in a few months, if the federal government recognizes Texas as a rehabilitated state, that might change. Currently, there’s a governor’s race between two Union-loyal Republicans, Davis and Hamilton, both of whom have been “robbing the state blind” during their time as senators.
Captain Kidd criticizes members of the Reconstruction government for enriching themselves rather than serving the population. While Reconstruction is supposed to increase loyalty in the former Confederate states, it actually causes distrust of the federal government.
Themes
Captain Kidd theatrically shakes out the London Times, encouraging people to “enter another realm of mind.” He reads about a failed census in India, storms in London, and Irish immigrants in New York. Someone in the crowd calls out to ask why he’s not reading from the newspaper that Davis owns. The Captain responds sternly that if he commented on Texas politics, there would be fist fighting and violence. He brings news from distant places, and if they want to hear of Texas events they can find out for themselves.
The fact that a corrupt senator actually owns the newspaper, and presumably uses it to advance his own agenda, corroborates Doris’s earlier distrust of the newspapers and suggests that media can be instruments of propaganda as well as illuminators of truth. This adds another barrier for remote communities hoping to gain meaningful understandings of national politics.
Themes
When Captain Kidd steps down from the stage, he’s dismayed to see the pale-haired man, who must have been following him from Spanish Fort. The Captain shakes hands with everyone in the crowd, even men wearing Union war medals; he feels that anyone who survived the war should be “congratulated.” As the crowd thins, the pale-haired man stands up, introduces himself as Almay, and bluntly asks the Captain to sell Johanna to him. He continues that since army presence here is minimal, he could easily take the girl on the road. But he wants to offer a fair trade.
While soldiers are present at public events and even stop Captain Kidd on the road, their actual enforcement of public security is so minimal that human traffickers can operate openly. This incident highlights the anarchic nature of 19th-century Texas and shows that criticism of the Reconstruction government’s efficacy (if not its aims) is merited.
Themes
Feeling ice cold, Captain Kidd stalls for time, saying he hasn’t “settled on a price” and he wants to know that Johanna will be treated well. Almay gives a sinister smile and says she’ll be “paid” for her work and that “blond girls are premium.” Trying to think ahead, the Captain tells Almay to meet him at a roadhouse early the next morning where they’ll make the trade. He hurries away.
Captain Kidd knows he can’t rely on the government to keep him and Johanna safe, so he has to trick Almay in order to save Johanna. The man’s sinister comments hint at the life of sex slavery she’d face at his hands, making clear that whether of not the Captain is suited to the task, it’s up to him to protect the young girl.
Themes
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Captain Kidd hurries back to the livery stable, harnesses the horses, and quickly changes his clothes. Then he runs back to the hotel, where Mrs. Gannet answers the door in her nightgown, and announces that they must leave immediately. Mrs. Gannet is furious when he tells her about Almay and helps Johanna pack up her things. Before leaving, the Captain asks permission to “call on” her when he returns to Dallas, and kisses her on the cheek.
By taking immediate action and not hesitating to put himself in danger, Captain Kidd establishes himself as not just a temporary caretaker but a father figure to Johanna. His heightened sense of responsibility allows him to feel invested in his own life again, a feeling he expresses by making romantic overtures to Mrs. Gannet.
Themes
Captain Kidd and Johanna set off on a minor road, hoping to evade detection for a few hours and then turn onto the larger Meridian Road. He wants to reach the river, where he can pull off the road and keep watch for their pursuers. The Captain doesn’t mind a fight, but he’s too old and poorly armed to win; he doesn’t even have a holster for his gun.
When Captain Kidd argues that he’s unsuited to care for a young girl, he’s usually underestimating his own capabilities. However, it is true that he’s not well-equipped to protect her against younger men. His own limitations mean that Johanna will have to hold her own, too.
Themes
After some hours, Captain Kidd is able to turn onto the main road. Johanna sits calmly beside him, wrapped in her thick blanket. He’s unable to explain anything; but, seasoned by her tribe’s battles with Texas settlers and other Native Americans, she clearly knows that there are “enemies in pursuit.” The land around them is clear and empty, with just an occasional farmhouse in sight. Suddenly, Johanna sees a great horned owl, a symbol of death among the Kiowa, and cries out. The Captain grimly tells her to pretend it was a hawk.
Even though she doesn’t know exactly what’s going on, Johanna’s background allows her to sense the high stakes of the situation. By facing danger together, the old man and young girl will develop an emotional intimacy that persists despite their inability to communicate verbally.
Themes
