The Witch of Blackbird Pond

by

Elizabeth George Speare

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Judith Wood Character Analysis

Judith Wood is Kit’s cousin, Mercy’s sister, and Matthew and Rachel Wood’s daughter. Judith is beautiful and materialistic, which the book makes clear when Judith fawns over the fine clothes that Kit brings to Connecticut. Judith and Kit have a rocky start to their relationship, in part because Judith is envious of Kit’s fancy dresses. Judith also resents that Kit is unaccustomed to housework when Kit first arrives in Wethersfield. On top of this, Judith is romantically interested in William Ashby when Kit arrives, but William is attracted to Kit as soon as he meets her. So, Judith sets her sights on John Holbrook, whom she finds handsome. But Judith and John don’t have much in common—Judith is high-spirited and interested in material goods, whereas John is solemn and prioritizes his Puritan faith over all else. When the family hears that Native Americans captured John while he is in the militia, Judith overcomes her feelings for him and settles down with William, who shares her interests and values.

Judith Wood Quotes in The Witch of Blackbird Pond

The The Witch of Blackbird Pond quotes below are all either spoken by Judith Wood or refer to Judith Wood. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
Puritan Hypocrisy Theme Icon
).
Chapter 4 Quotes

“Why, girls! What on earth—?” Rachel Wood had come back unnoticed, and she stood now staring at her daughter in the peacock blue gown with something, half fear and half hunger in her eyes.”

Related Characters: Rachel Wood (speaker), Katherine “Kit” Tyler, Matthew Wood, Mercy Wood, Judith Wood
Page Number: 42
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 5 Quotes

“You certainly made an impression on William Ashby,” Judith ventured presently.

There was no point in denying it. “Perhaps because I was someone new,” said Kit.

“Perhaps. You aren’t exactly pretty, you know. But naturally William would be impressed by a dress like that.”

Related Characters: Katherine “Kit” Tyler (speaker), Judith Wood (speaker), William Ashby
Page Number: 58
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 8 Quotes

As they came out from the shelter of the trees and the Great Meadows stretched before them, Kit caught her breath. She had not expected anything like this. From that first moment, in a way she could never explain, the Meadows claimed her and made her their own. As far as she could see they stretched on either side, a great level sea of green, broken here and there by a solitary graceful elm. Was it the fields of sugar cane they brought to mind, or the endless reach of the ocean to meet the sky? Or was it simply the sense of freedom and space and light that spoke to her of home?

Related Characters: Katherine “Kit” Tyler, Judith Wood
Related Symbols: Great Meadows
Page Number: 76
Explanation and Analysis:

“[…] She’s been there as long as I can remember.”

“All alone?”

“With her cats. There’s always a cat or so around. People say she’s a witch.”

“Do you believe in witches, Judith?”

“Maybe not,” said Judith doubtfully. “All the same, it gives me a creepy feeling to look at her. She’s queer, that’s certain, and she never comes to Meeting. I’d just rather not get any closer.”

Kit looked back at the gray figure bent over a kettle, stirring something with a long stick. Her spine prickled. It might be only soap, of course […] But that lonely figure in the ragged flapping shawl—it was easy enough to imagine any sort of mysterious brew in that pot!

Related Characters: Katherine “Kit” Tyler (speaker), Judith Wood (speaker), Hannah Tupper
Related Symbols: Hannah’s Cats
Page Number: 77
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 11 Quotes

Sometimes Kit wanted to stop her ears. Would she have to hear the price of every nail that went into those board, and every single nail the finest that money could buy? […]

Judith, however took a lively interest in such details. She had a flair for line and form and a definite mind of her own, and it was plain, to Kit at least, that as William planned his house Judith was comparing it, timber for timber, with the house she dreamed for herself. Her purpose was only too apparent as she made adroit attempts to draw John Holbrook into the discussion.

“I think you should have one of those new roofs, William,” she said now. […] “I think they look so distinguished, don’t you, John?”

Mercy laughed at John’s bewilderment. “I don’t believe John even notices there’s a roof over his head,” she teased gently.

Related Characters: Mercy Wood (speaker), Judith Wood (speaker), Katherine “Kit” Tyler, William Ashby, John Holbrook
Page Number: 119
Explanation and Analysis:
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Judith Wood Quotes in The Witch of Blackbird Pond

The The Witch of Blackbird Pond quotes below are all either spoken by Judith Wood or refer to Judith Wood. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
Puritan Hypocrisy Theme Icon
).
Chapter 4 Quotes

“Why, girls! What on earth—?” Rachel Wood had come back unnoticed, and she stood now staring at her daughter in the peacock blue gown with something, half fear and half hunger in her eyes.”

Related Characters: Rachel Wood (speaker), Katherine “Kit” Tyler, Matthew Wood, Mercy Wood, Judith Wood
Page Number: 42
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 5 Quotes

“You certainly made an impression on William Ashby,” Judith ventured presently.

There was no point in denying it. “Perhaps because I was someone new,” said Kit.

“Perhaps. You aren’t exactly pretty, you know. But naturally William would be impressed by a dress like that.”

Related Characters: Katherine “Kit” Tyler (speaker), Judith Wood (speaker), William Ashby
Page Number: 58
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 8 Quotes

As they came out from the shelter of the trees and the Great Meadows stretched before them, Kit caught her breath. She had not expected anything like this. From that first moment, in a way she could never explain, the Meadows claimed her and made her their own. As far as she could see they stretched on either side, a great level sea of green, broken here and there by a solitary graceful elm. Was it the fields of sugar cane they brought to mind, or the endless reach of the ocean to meet the sky? Or was it simply the sense of freedom and space and light that spoke to her of home?

Related Characters: Katherine “Kit” Tyler, Judith Wood
Related Symbols: Great Meadows
Page Number: 76
Explanation and Analysis:

“[…] She’s been there as long as I can remember.”

“All alone?”

“With her cats. There’s always a cat or so around. People say she’s a witch.”

“Do you believe in witches, Judith?”

“Maybe not,” said Judith doubtfully. “All the same, it gives me a creepy feeling to look at her. She’s queer, that’s certain, and she never comes to Meeting. I’d just rather not get any closer.”

Kit looked back at the gray figure bent over a kettle, stirring something with a long stick. Her spine prickled. It might be only soap, of course […] But that lonely figure in the ragged flapping shawl—it was easy enough to imagine any sort of mysterious brew in that pot!

Related Characters: Katherine “Kit” Tyler (speaker), Judith Wood (speaker), Hannah Tupper
Related Symbols: Hannah’s Cats
Page Number: 77
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 11 Quotes

Sometimes Kit wanted to stop her ears. Would she have to hear the price of every nail that went into those board, and every single nail the finest that money could buy? […]

Judith, however took a lively interest in such details. She had a flair for line and form and a definite mind of her own, and it was plain, to Kit at least, that as William planned his house Judith was comparing it, timber for timber, with the house she dreamed for herself. Her purpose was only too apparent as she made adroit attempts to draw John Holbrook into the discussion.

“I think you should have one of those new roofs, William,” she said now. […] “I think they look so distinguished, don’t you, John?”

Mercy laughed at John’s bewilderment. “I don’t believe John even notices there’s a roof over his head,” she teased gently.

Related Characters: Mercy Wood (speaker), Judith Wood (speaker), Katherine “Kit” Tyler, William Ashby, John Holbrook
Page Number: 119
Explanation and Analysis: