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Chapter 1
Themes
and Colors
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Gender Roles, Acceptance, and Freedom
Class, Social Hierarchies, and Respectability
Obedience vs. Rebellion
Racism and Solidarity
Summary
Analysis
Charlotte and Mr. Grummage board the ship and are greeted by the second mate, Mr. Keetch, in lieu of Captain Jaggery. Keetch tells them that Charlotte should not go on the voyage, prompting protest from Mr. Grummage. Before Charlotte can stop him, Grummage departs the ship, never to be seen again. Charlotte tries to get off the ship by explaining that her trunk isn’t on it, but Keetch calls someone to retrieve it and leads her down into the ship and to her cabin, which is tiny and full of vermin. A sailor named Barlow comes to bring her trunk, which has to be placed in top cargo due to his size, and he warns her to stay off the Seahawk. Charlotte internally agrees but rebuffs the sailor due to her sense of propriety. The sailor leaves.
In contrast to the comfortable and easy life that Charlotte is used to, the ship is cramped and full of vermin, showing her a world that she’s never been exposed to before. The ship’s ominous atmosphere is furthered by Keetch and Barlow’s discouraging Charlotte from riding the ship, highlighting how it is no place for a prim Victorian girl. However, although Charlotte also dislikes the ship, she stoically endures the terrible conditions, showing how she prioritizes obedience over her own wants or needs.
Active
Themes
Charlotte, who has never been without guidance in her life, cries alone in her cabin until she’s visited by another sailor, a Black man named Zachariah. Although Charlotte finds his appearance menacing, he speaks softly and brings Charlotte to the galley (kitchen) to make her some tea. While they drink it, Zachariah offers to be Charlotte’s friend, but she finds this distasteful and rejects him. Zachariah insists that they are a good fit since they are both outcasts: Charlotte is the only woman, and he is the only Black person. He then tells her that she will need a “final friend” to look after her in case she dies at sea; the tradition is that a dead sailor is sewn into a hammock by this friend.
Charlotte’s reaction to Zachariah highlights the anti-Black prejudice she’s learned from wealthy white society. Zachariah is the first person on the ship to show Charlotte unequivocal kindness, but she immediately rejects it due to being intimidated by Zachariah’s so-called “menacing” appearance. Ironically, Zachariah is correct that he and Charlotte are alike in their isolation on the ship—but, in rejecting him, Charlotte chooses to remain isolated.
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Charlotte is frightened by Zachariah and turns to leave, but he takes out a knife. Charlotte screams, but Zachariah explains that he wishes to give the knife (which is a short dagger known as a dirk) to Charlotte for protection. Reluctantly, she takes it, then allows Zachariah to lead her back to her cabin. She places the dirk under her pillow, resolving not to think of it again. She falls asleep and wakes just in time to overhear a conversation between Keetch and someone else. Keetch explains that the only one he could get onto the ship was Charlotte, and “with them looking on,” he had to pretend they didn’t want her. The other man responds with approval, since “with her as witness, they’ll not dare to move.” Charlotte, confused, falls back asleep.
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