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Nathaniel “Nat” Eaton
Matthew Wood is Kit’s uncle, Rachel’s husband, and Mercy and Judith’s father. He embodies many norms of Puritan society: he is stern, unwelcoming to outsiders, and inflexible in his political and religious beliefs. At first, Kit despises him for these qualities and often wonders why her Aunt Rachel—who is mild-mannered and kind—married him. Matthew is particularly adamant that Kit end her friendship with Hannah Tupper, whom he calls a heretic because of her Quaker faith. He doesn’t believe that Hannah is a witch like other townspeople do, but he is nevertheless prejudiced against her and thinks she is inferior because she is not a Puritan. He is an example of how the Puritans, who migrated to the American colonies to practice their religion freely, did not extend religious freedom to others. Matthew’s political beliefs also betray his hypocrisy. Advocating for Connecticut’s partial independence from King James of England, he is particularly adamant that the King should respect the colonists’ land ownership. But while he defends the colonists’ land grants, he doesn’t acknowledge that he—and the other colonists—are living on land that they stole from Native Americans. Matthew isn’t always shown in a bad light, however: Kit eventually comes to respect her uncle for his unfailing work ethic, loyalty to his family, and dedication to his community. In this way, Matthew represents how the Puritans in Wethersfield have positive characteristics, although their hypocrisy often overshadows them.
Matthew Wood Quotes in The Witch of Blackbird Pond
The The Witch of Blackbird Pond quotes below are all either spoken by Matthew Wood or refer to Matthew 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:
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Chapter 3 Quotes
“You mean that, just on an impulse, you left your rightful home and sailed halfway across the world?”
“No, it was not an impulse exactly. You see, I really had no home to leave.”
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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.”
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Chapter 5 Quotes
An hour ago [Kit] had declined to go to Meeting, saying airily that she and her grandfather had seldom attended divine service, except for the Christmas Mass. What an uproar she had caused! There was no Church of England in Wethersfield, her uncle had informed her, and furthermore, since she was now a member of his household she would forget her popish ideas and attend Meeting like a God-fearing woman.
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Chapter 6 Quotes
“I am mistaken,” Matthew Wood challenged him, “because I do not favor knuckling under to this new King’s governor?”
“Governor Andros was appointed by King James. Massachusetts has recognized that.”
“Well, we here in Connecticut will never recognize it—never! Do you think we have labored and sacrificed all these years to build up a free government only to hand it over now without a murmur?”
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Chapter 12 Quotes
“Why should you take it upon yourself to mend a roof for the Quaker woman?” demanded [Matthew].
“She lives all alone—” began Kit.
“She is a heretic, and she refuses to attend Meeting. She has no claim on your charity.”
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Chapter 14 Quotes
As Kit watched, her uncle bent slowly and scooped up a handful of brown dirt from the garden patch at his feet, and stood holding it with a curious reverence, as though it were some priceless substance. As it crumbled through his fingers his hand convulsed in a sudden passionate gesture. Kit backed through the door and closed it softly. She felt as though she had eavesdropped. When she had hated and feared her uncle for so long, why did it suddenly hurt to think of that lonely defiant figure in the garden?
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Chapter 15 Quotes
Rachel searched for some words of comfort. “I know it is a disappointment,” she attempted. “But will it truly change our lives so very much? Here in Wethersfield, I mean? We will still all be together in this house, and surely we will not lose our rights as citizens of England.”
Her husband brusquely waved away her comfort. “That is all a woman thinks about,” he scoffed. “Her own house. What use are your so-called rights of England? Nothing but a mockery. Everything we have built here in Connecticut will be wiped out. Our council, our courts will be mere shadows with no real power in them. Oh, we will endure it of course. What else can we do?”
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Chapter 18 Quotes
“‘Tis true I did not welcome you into my house,” [Matthew] said at last. “But this last week you have proved me wrong. You haven’t spared yourself, Katherine. Our own daughter couldn’t have done more.”
Suddenly Kit wished, with all her heart, that she had never deceived this man. She would like to stand here before him with a clear conscience. She was ashamed of the many times—more times than she could count—when she had skipped off and left her work undone.
I shall tell him some day, she vowed to herself, when I am sure that Hannah is safe. And I will do my full share, beginning this very moment. I don’t even feel tired any more.
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Matthew Wood Character Timeline in The Witch of Blackbird Pond
The timeline below shows where the character Matthew Wood appears in The Witch of Blackbird Pond. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Chapter 1
...to have his own church. Kit will be living with her aunt and her uncle, Matthew Wood, who live in Wethersfield as well. John humorously notes that Kit will shock and...
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Chapter 2
...Rachel, her mother’s sister. Rachel left England for America after she met a Puritan man (Matthew) and eloped with him. Although Kit has never met her aunt, her grandfather told her...
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...his concern—he sent word to Wethersfield that the Dolphin was arriving today, so Rachel and Matthew should be at the shore to greet her. Knowing that she needs to tell the...
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Chapter 3
...walk. Wethersfield is more of a settlement than a town. At last, they reach Uncle Matthew’s house, which Kit is relieved to see is large and sturdy. Captain Eaton knocks on...
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...brings Kit into a big, bright kitchen where she excitedly introduces Kit to her Uncle Matthew—a stern and unwelcoming man—and her two cousins, Judith and Mercy. Judith is beautiful, exactly what...
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...away from England. Kit silently muses that Rachel moved even further—she came to America for Matthew Wood, whom Kit finds quite frightening.
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Matthew, who has been scowling the whole time, gets up from the table and announces that...
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...only chance to find family. She departed immediately, with no time to send Rachel and Matthew a letter in advance.
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Rachel is sympathetic toward Kit and reminds Matthew that they are Kit’s last remaining relatives. Matthew is less empathetic, bluntly asking whether Kit’s...
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Chapter 4
As soon as Matthew goes to work in the meadow, Rachel leaves to drop off food for a Widow...
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...bonnet. Rachel does so, and for a moment she looks happy. But suddenly she goes pale—Matthew has reentered the room.
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Matthew is furious to see his daughters and his wife engaging in “vanity.” He commands Judith...
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Judith is defiant, but Matthew is stern. Rachel, however, asks Matthew if Mercy can at least keep the shawl. After...
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...man and is certain that she can’t return to Barbados now. Mercy assures her that Matthew will let Kit stay, so long as she proves that she can help the family...
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After dinner, Matthew reads from the Bible. Kit finds it boring and is relieved when she can at...
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Chapter 5
It’s Sabbath morning, and Kit has already managed to upset Matthew twice. First, she declined to go to Meeting with them; she and her grandfather only...
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...she must be grateful for her relatives’ help. Kit realizes that they must all think Matthew is helping her out of charity—no wonder they are shocked at her dress.
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Chapter 6
When the Reverend implies that Matthew will try to persuade her to drop her loyalist views, Matthew becomes furious. He insists...
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After the Reverend and John leave, Matthew rages that he will never again invite the Reverend over for dinner. As the women...
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...a William on the morning of Kit’s arrival. Kit hurriedly tells Judith that she’ll tell Matthew that she isn’t interested in William; then maybe he’ll redirect his attentions to Judith. But...
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Chapter 7
...the Assembly has declared that “there should be no unclaimed land left” in their county. Matthew thinks this is a wise move; if they wait, then the new governor will just...
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William respectfully disagrees with Matthew, arguing that the colony might lose all their rights if they anger the king. Kit...
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...John interjects that the Reverend Bulkeley believes that the people of Connecticut misinterpret the charter, Matthew becomes furious. He rants that John and William are too young and “soft” to understand...
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...to the remaining women that tonight was certainly the last time William will ever come by—Matthew was so dreadful to him. But Rachel and Judith disagree. They point out that William...
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Chapter 8
One June morning, Matthew tells Judith and Kit to weed one of the fields. Both girls are thrilled to...
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...had been a boy. She quickly tells her that no one meant any malice; rather, Matthew has always needed a boy to help with the work. In fact, Rachel had given...
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Chapter 10
...Judith to come along, but Judith refuses to join, scared of the house and of Matthew’s reaction.
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Chapter 12
...wishing that he would leave so that she won’t have to explain his presence to Matthew. When they arrive at the house, she is anxious to see that William is there...
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When Matthew demands to know why Kit was gone for so long, Kit announces that she was...
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Furious that Kit is helping a Quaker, Matthew forbids Kit from visiting Hannah again. Even when Kit mentions that Hannah lives alone and...
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Chapter 13
...fine by herself. But John insists that he wants to stay behind to talk to Matthew alone.
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Ecstatic, Judith cries out to Matthew to “Say yes, now.” Smiling at Judith’s joy, Matthew gives John permission to marry Judith....
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As Judith, John, Matthew, and Kit walk to the husking bee, Kit can’t stop thinking about how John is...
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Chapter 14
...by the beauty of New England in the fall. One day, she catches sight of Matthew gazing out at the gilded fields. As she watches, he scoops up some dirt and...
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When Kit and Judith return to the Woods’ home, Rachel anxiously tells them that Matthew left. Apparently, a crowd is gathering nearby in response to something that happened regarding Governor...
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When Matthew arrives that evening, he wearily tells them that the Governor Andros will be coming to...
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Chapter 15
...Englanders will have to buy new land grants. Yet over the other voices, Kit hears Matthew firmly reminding the other men that they want to avoid violence.
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Eventually the men leave. When Rachel sees that Matthew is dejected, she asks him if the Governor’s arrival will actually have any significant impact...
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Matthew coldly dismisses Rachel’s words, saying that her house “is all a woman thinks about.” She...
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...and Judith scramble out of bed and hurry to the stairs, where they meet Rachel. Matthew opens the door to reveal William, who tells him that the charter is safe. According...
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Matthew knows that the Governor Andros doesn’t really need the charter—“the power [is] in his hands...
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Once William leaves, Matthew tells the women not to tell anyone that they heard anything. Once in bed, Kit...
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Chapter 16
The next day, Matthew bitterly announces that Governor Andros has cancelled Thanksgiving, already taking away Connecticut’s authority. Judith is...
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Matthew goes on to say that the rivermen made jack-o-lanterns and put them in the windows...
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Chapter 17
...before Judith does. When Mercy falls sick, however, she becomes seriously ill. Rachel suggests that Matthew ask Reverend Bulkeley to tend to Mercy, but Matthew staunchly refuses—he meant it when he...
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...family struggles to manage. Rachel is worn out from taking care of all the girls, Matthew is tired from working all day in the fields, and Judith is still too weak...
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On the fourth day of Mercy’s sickness, Matthew announces that he is going to leave the house. At that moment, someone knocks on...
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Matthew opens the door and demands to know why people are disrupting his family at this...
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Frightened, Kit asks Matthew what the crowd plans to do to Hannah, who really is just “a poor helpless...
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Chapter 18
Later that morning, only Kit and Matthew are awake. Kit seizes this moment to thank Matthew for standing up for her against...
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...it’s a deacon from church, a constable, Goodwife Cruff, Goodman Cruff. They tell a skeptical Matthew that they have reason to believe that Hannah used magic to disappear—they think she turned...
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...cut Kit off, and the constable announces that they are arresting Kit for committing witchcraft. Matthew is furious—he finds the charge ridiculous. Goodman Cruff victoriously announces that he was the one...
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...“it didn’t seem to take much evidence to rouse these people’s suspicions.” She wonders how Matthew could help her but admits that she has made him look bad by disobeying him.
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Chapter 19
...of men who are the town selectmen. With a jolt, Kit thinks of how ashamed Matthew must feel that one of his own family is being examined. As she scans the...
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Matthew interjects, shouting that these “witnesses” don’t have any “lawful evidence”—it’s all merely hearsay. He offers...
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...Prudence is the same man who is banned from Wethersfield. Upon seeing Kit’s stricken face, Matthew asks Talcott to let Nat go—after all, he risked himself to “see justice done.” Talcott...
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...for slander: either time in the stocks or a high fine. But seeing Kit’s horror, Matthew announces that they won’t press charges and will just take Kit home.
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Chapter 21
...her dresses are worth. She sets aside two dresses for Judith and Mercy, sure that Matthew will accept them now that she is offering them “with love instead of pride.”
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...Nat firmly refuses. In a rush, he tells her that he plans to talk to Matthew immediately. Throughout winter, he hasn’t stopped thinking about getting a house for the two of...
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