Antagonist/Protagonist

For the first 200 or so pages of Moby Dick, I believed that the antagonist was Ishmael and the antagonist was Captain Ahab, Moby Dick, or a combination of the two. However, I know believe that both Moby Dick and Captain Ahab will each have moments when one appears to be the protagonist and the other the antagonist. Both characters seem to have already had moments where they can be portrayed as good or evil. The switching of roles creates a realistic dilemma; very rarely are real world problems a scenario where “good” people trying to conquer those who are “evil.”
In my opinion, Captain Ahab’s first appearance in the novel presented him as the antagonist. His deformity and demeanor portrays a man who is not mentally stable. Numerous times Ishmael refers to him as a monomaniac. I believed that this monomania was one of evil desires, but it could also be viewed as a fatal flaw, which many protagonists in Greek drama have.
Moby Dick is thoroughly analyzed by Ishmael when he discusses the color white. He references Biblical and monarchal practices that indicate white is holy and noble. However, he believes that white is more deformed and uncertain. He references the albino and the sight of whitewater on the ocean. These ambiguous character traits allow the reader to form his/her own opinion about the characters.

Discussion Facilitation Notes for Michael Conlin & Ryan Hurd

I.                   Blog Posts

a.       Sacrifice (Kate) and Loyalty (Breeze)

                                                              i.      Sacrifice and Loyalty

1.      Loyalty to

a.       God

                                                                                                                                      i.      Esther, Winthrop

b.      Society

                                                                                                                                      i.      Winthrop, Mononotto, Fletcher

c.       An individual

                                                                                                                                      i.      Everell, Magawisca, Hope, Esther

                                                            ii.      Based upon this, is loyalty really rewarded in the novel? It seems as though loyalty is most often rewarded in the novel when it is between two individuals

1.      In Hope Leslie, Sedgwick develops a plot that rewards characters who demonstrate loyalty and punishes those who do not.

2.      Is Magawisca truly rewarded for her loyalty?

a.       The only reason she was arrested to begin with was out of her loyalty to her father, as he believed the reunion of Hope and Leslie would benefit his tribe

                                                          iii.      In her letter she asks, "…would it not have been better as well as kinder, to have said, ‘Esther, I do not love thee,’ than to have permitted me to follow my silly imaginings and thereby have sacrificed my happiness for this world—and thine—and Hope Leslie’s?” (360). 

1.      Does sacrifice always mean loyalty?

2.      Everell was not completely straightforward with Esther about how he felt. He acted in a way that was selfish, and possibly disloyal? (Selfish vs. Selfless Sacrifice)

a.       Everell was trying to choose between loyalty to his society’s desire for him to marry Esther vs. loyalty to an individual (Hope)

b.      Esther realizes that she doesn’t need to have a husband in order to be happy, and says something along these lines when writing to Everell in her letter. Is this an example of her being rewarded for her loyalty to God / society?

c.       Was Rosa’s final sacrifice a selfish or selfless act? Was her final vengeance against Sir Philip her own way of being rewarded for her loyalty throughout the plot?

II.                Letters

a.       What is the purpose of Sedgwick using letters throughout the novel

                                                              i.      Exposition – why is it better to have a character recount events as opposed writing out the scene? 

1.      Mrs. Fletcher

a.       Everell character development – his ideals appear to be clashing with his mother’s

b.      Love between Magawisca and Everell

2.      Hope Leslie

a.       Development of other characters; Cradock, Grafton, Nelema, Mr. Pynchon

b.      Jail break

c.       Hope’s letter shows her rebellious side, and identifies her perspective of justice

3.       Grafton’s letter

a.       Connection between Hope and Everell

4.      Gardiner’s Letter

a.       True nature of Gardiner

b.      What does it reveal about Puritan society

5.       Esther’s Letter

a.       Why conclude the novel with a letter from her?

Ahead of its time

The novel, Hope Leslie, was considered to be ahead of its times. Throughout the book there are foreword ideas of feminism and equality between colonists and Native Americans, which were not prevalent at the time. Feminism is a prominent idea in the character’s daily lives. It is illustrated through the characters of Hope, Esther, and Magawisca. The characters of Hope and Magawisca are most similar. They are their own person and stand up for what they believe in. These two characters are contracted to that of Esther Downing who is described as everything feminine and sweet which is exemplified in the quote saying, “her sweet feminine qualities were now called into action: she watched and prayed over her friend; and though her cheek was pale, and her eye dim, she had never appeared half so lovely to Everell…(257).”

The other aspect making the book ahead of its time is the idea of equality between Native Americans and the colonists. Though it was not seen by all in the story, characters like Everell, Hope, and Magawisca saw no difference between the two groups. In the early pages of the novel, Everell and Magawisca fell in love despite their different races. Throughout the book, this love deepened and led each character to break away from his or her own race to save the other. Though these aspects of foreword thinking were not viewed by all in the book, the existence of them was significant in making the novel to be ahead of its time.

Rosa's Struggle

Rosa is without a doubt one of the most pitiable characters in Hope Leslie. Her feelings for Ser Philip are sadly obsessive, but her feelings towards Hope Leslie are of a greater interest to me. Rosa's struggle is the conflict between her extreme jealousy and her undeniable affection for Hope Leslie. The conflict of these emotions is evident in every significant interaction between Rosa and Hope. Rosa confesses her love for Ser Philip and her unhappiness to Hope, and says "I have hated you, lady; you who look so like an angel of pity on me; and this very day, when I saw Ser Philip hand you into that boat…I could have plunged this dagger into your bosom". However, when given the chance a moment later to take Hope's life, Rosa instead cradles Hope in her arms and kisses her forehead "with an undefinable sensation of joy that he (Rosa) might thus approach angelic purity". While on the ship, Rosa prays aloud for the deliverance of Hope from Ser Philip’s plot, and then remarks that “I would give my poor life, and a thousand more, if I had them, to save Hope Leslie, but I will never do her a menial service.” Rosa’s love for Hope is clear at this point, but it is still intermingled with feelings of jealousy that repel her from acting as Hope’s handmaid at Ser Philip’s request. Rosa’s emotions come to a climax with her final act, throwing the lamp into the barrel of gunpowder. It is difficult to say whether this act was driven by her jealousy, her love for Hope, her self-pity, her simultaneous love and hate for Ser Philip, or a confusing mixture of all of them. I look forward to reading someone’s thoughts.

Deus ex Machina

I am left wondering why Sedgwick chose to tie up the end of the novel so neatly. When Chaddock’s party mistakes Jennet for Hope, it allows for a happy resolution for the majority of the likable characters. Oneco and Faith are allowed to escape, and Hope and Everell’s plot to ensure the safe passage of Magawisca is not interrupted. In exchange for Hope, Sedgwick allows for the capture of Jennet. Jennet is one of the least likable characters in the book, and most readers would not mourn her passing. Gardiner and Chaddock are also portrayed almost exclusively in a negative light. Sedgwick then uses a deus ex machina to get rid of these negative characters. She has Rosa throw a lamp at a conveniently located barrel of gunpowder. Jennet, Gardiner, and Chaddock are all neatly disposed of, and Rosa is allowed to exact revenge for her oppression and mistreatment by Gardiner. The majority of good characters prosper, and the majority of bad characters meet their well-deserved doom.

The reason that the conflict between vengeance and forgiveness is compelling is that human beings are infinitely complex. There are no people who are perfectly bad or good. Sedgwick’s characters would have felt more true to me if Gardiner wasn’t always ill-intentioned, or Esther wasn’t always pure and graceful. Similarly, I would have found the resolution more thought provoking had Sedgwick not chosen to end on an artificially tidy note.

There is Justice in Love

As I finished the novel, I was struck by the abundance of romance in the plot. Call me girly for noticing it, but while the main plotlines are about racial tensions, the romantic tension between Hope and Everell also sticks out in my mind. Their relationship seems to be Sedgwick’s way of continuing the relationship between Fletcher Sr. and Alice, which I found to be a continuing thread between the two generations.

            I also find it interesting that the relationship between Everell and Hope ends happily. It seems most obvious that things are going to end well for the two when Sedgwick writes, “… But no language could have been so expressive of their mutual love and mutual resolution, as this silence.” (pg 348) This is a stark contrast to the relationship between their parents, which was torn apart by religious conflict and distance. Instead, it is Ester that ends up crossing the Atlantic and returning to England, allowing Hope and Everell to be together. The theme or rather motifs of romance seem to echo the theme of justice in a way. While it may not be as literal as justice in terms of life or death, there is some justice to me in that at last Hope and Everell are united in the end. 

"Thoughtless child"

     I found it very interesting how the author portrayed the character of Hope Leslie, especially towards the end of the novel.  During the whole event of planning and freeing Magawisca, Hope fools a lot of people to eventually be successful with this criminal act.  She starts by convincing Mr. Cradock to leave late from the Governor's home with her to go to the visit Magawisca without a pass from the Governor.  Mr. Cradock knew that the pass would be necessary for them to get into the jail but he kept moving just because Hope said so.  She seems to wrap the male figures in this tale around her little finger, and they jump when she says jump.  It was especially interesting to watch Barnaby Tuttle melt because she began to cry on page 319-320.  It was also interesting to see how little Mr. Cradock fought Hope when she took his clothes to dress Magawisca for her escape. 
      It's just interesting how the author uses Hope's gender as a way for our heroine to always get her way with the male characters in the story, as well as a way for her to follow what her heart believes.  She felt that freeing Magawisca was the right thing to do, for she knew her friend was innocent and did not deserve imprisonment.  But it was a criminal act for her and Everell to conspire to free who the colony believed to be a fugitive.  After the governor found out that these events had transpired in the night he went and spoke with Barnaby at the jail to speak with him about the events.  Barnaby described Hope Leslie as a "thoughtless child", which sounds as if the author is showing that the people in this novel see Hope as a child of innocence.  There is not a moment in the novel where Hope is portrayed in a negative light, she is portrayed like a lamb without blemish, at least by most characters within the novel.  I believe she did the right thing freeing her friend and following her heart, but as a reader I can see that she portrays innocence to the characters in the novel but in reality she is very smart and tactful in her schemes for getting things done.

"We must love something"

Although this complex novel contains many different messages, for me there was one particular phrase that resonated deeper than any other themes of the novel. Catharine Sedgwick writes of a conversion between Rosa and Hope Leslie; saying, “ ‘Oh, this is indeed foolish and sinful; how can you love him, whom you confess to be so unworthy?’ ‘We must love something,’ replied the boy in a faint voice, his head sinking on his bosom” (page 252). I think this brings an interesting idea to the table, which is very relatable to the plot. It does seem that each character is bound to have an extreme and irrevocable adoration for one thing or person.  As alluded to by the quote, Rosa is eternally tied to the evil Sir Phillip. Although she is able to recognize the unhealthy side effects, which are constantly arising as a by-product, it is undeniable for her. Not all of the relationships are solely based on romance. The entire novel offers examples of Cradock’s deep love for his star pupil, Hope Leslie. It is specifically referenced on page 316 when Sedgwick writes, “he would have followed her to the world’s end without question.” He sacrifices his life as well as his morals to protect the whims of Hope Leslie’s uncontrollable mind. I think the thought that everyone must love something is very ubiquitous, both in this novel as well as in life.

Author's Attitude toward Native Americans

Throughout Hope Leslie, I found somewhat confusing the tone in which the author described the major Native American characters mentioned throughout the novel.  Magawisca was certainly, in the narrator’s mind, the epitome of a heroine, and she was described as having a “noble mind” (p. 345) and her countenance was described as being “without guilt, nor fearfulness, nor submission” (p.292).  The heartbreaking parting scene between Magawisca and Hope and Everell embodied the characters’ strong feelings toward Magawisca, especially since she had saved Everell’s life.  However, some of the other Native American characters (namely Mononotto and Nelema) are dealt with in a slightly more confusing manner.

            In the beginning of the novel, Mononotto is described as being a friend to the English, but to many of his people, they believe that this means he has a “woman’s heart” and is seen to be a negative quality.  After Mononotto turns to vengeance and violence, however, he is viewed by his people as weak and somewhat insane and is appeased in the tribes he communicates with but his advice is never followed. 

            Nelema faces the opposite transition.  In the first volume of the novel, she is seen as somewhat of a witch woman who bears the terrible news of the Fletcher family’s impending doom (p. 38).  From the tone of the author in describing her, I felt that Nelema did not favor the English as a whole, but accepted the Fletchers because of their kindness to her.  This raised the question to me about Native American values. It seems that throughout the novel, the only Native Americans that deal kindly with the English are ones that receive some sort of payment from the English, whether that be in kindness or gold coins. Does the author consider Native Americans to be an intelligent race capable of emotion and compassion toward races who haven’t earned their kindness in return? Or does she view them as a race that simply believes in a “tit for tat” approach in dealing with other races?

Is Sacrifice Love?

In Hope Leslie the theme of sacrifice was prevalent, not only in characters’ who literally saved each others’ lives, (Magawisca, Everell, Hope Leslie, and Digby) but also in the love lives of the characters at the end of the novel.  Hope Leslie and Everell are both willing to sacrifice their own happiness in order to make Esther and her parents comfortable.  Hope loves her Esther so much that she would rather be alone than interfere in her best friends’ relationship.  Everell does not want Esther to be upset or to feel unloved, and he is also confused by the fact that Hope is pushing Esther onto him.

     Esther serves as an example of the complexity of sacrifice.  She shows that the sacrifice Everell was willing to make, while he might have felt it was selfless, was somewhat selfish.  In her letter she asks, "…would it not have been better as well as kinder, to have said, ‘Esther, I do not love thee,’ than to have permitted me to follow my silly imaginings and thereby have sacrificed my happiness for this world—and thine—and Hope Leslie’s?” (360).  Also, Faith Leslie is unwilling to sacrifice her happiness for her sister’s happiness.  She knows that this kind of sacrifice would be detrimental to their relationship.  Hope still does not understand how her sister is willing to leave as she only sees this situation from her own point of view, so she asks Magawisca if there is a charm that could “win her sister’s affections” (344).  Magawisca explains to Hope the pain that Faith would experience when she says, “Ask your own heart, Hope Leslie, if any charm could win your affections from Everell Fletcher?” (344).  Overall, I gathered that while sacrifice can be an act of love, since it is a complex action, it can also be a selfish act that will hurt all parties involved.

Importance of Loyalty

In Hope Leslie, Sedgwick develops a plot that rewards characters who demonstrate loyalty and punishes those who do not. Magawisca serves throughout the novel as the most complex case study in loyalty because she remains loyal to multiple conflicting ideas. From the very beginning, she must balance her loyalty to her tribe by not warning the Fletchers about the impending Indian raid while still protecting Everell. Although Magawisca sacrifices an arm, her loyalty does not go unpaid throughout the novel. While Sedgwick could’ve ended the novel with Everell abandoning Magawisca and letting her stay imprisoned, he persists until she is free. Even though Everell is destined to be with Hope Leslie, Sedgwick emphasizes that Magawisca is not a victim, but instead gains emotional satisfaction from her undying friendship with Everell as seen on pg 266 after Everell first attempts to release her (“…seemed for a moment…in her exultation to forget the rocks and quicksand that encompassed her”).

            In contrast to the noble Magawisca, Sir Phillip Gardiner’s story ends in a tragic fashion when his spurned lover Rosa decides to ignite gun powder on the ship set for England. If Gardiner had any sense of loyalty, he would never become the “guilty destroyer” of a “hapless pitiable girl”(336) and would not have met such a violent end. Sedgwick clearly defines the villains and heroes in Hope Leslie and one must argue loyalty is one of the criteria used to distinguish between the two.

Comparison of Culture

            One of the most important themes of Hope Leslie is the comparisons between the native and English cultures. The author uses the events detailed in the Pequod War to create an atmosphere of discontent between the cultures, and then processed to detail how the natives and the English have more in common than they know. Both the Fletcher family and Monotto’s tribe suffer serious losses at the hands of opposing forces. These two groups are viewed as victims of this seemingly pointless conflict.

            The two heroines of the story, Magawisca and Hope Leslie draw strong comparisons to each other. Both women defy the anti-feminist notions of the day to accomplish what they feel to be the right thing to do. Magawisca defies her father to rescue Everell from death, while Hope risks her life in order to rescue Nelema from death. In the time period of the novel, women were supposed to be obedient to their male superiors; however, both Magawisca and Hope chose to follow their hearts, rather than submit to the social pressures of the day.

Quotes

In reading Hope Leslie I am intrigued at reading the quote, which begins each chapter and then connecting it to the ensuing chapter. Volume II chapter III began with the quote “I could find in my heart to disgrace my man’s apparel, and to cry like a woman.” The quote suggests abandoning masculinity and embracing a more sensitive side, open to feeling emotions. After reading the chapter I believe that the quote refers to Sir Philip’s uncertainty of his love life and his internal struggle to find happiness.

Chapter IV begins, with the quote “I should have been more strange I must confess, But that thou overheard’st me, ere I was ‘ware My love’s true passion: therefore, pardon me, And not impute this yielding to light love” – Romeo and Juliet. I believe that this quote mimics the scene from the chapter when Hope realizes her feelings for Everell on page 219 and her sadness of loosing his attention and affection. Similarly, Everll realizes on page 229 that he had misinterpreted Hope’s sentiments and that she has strong feelings for him just as he does for her. Both parties, unaware, or unable to realize their feelings were not able to act upon them.

Love and Hate

     Throughout Hope Leslie, hate and love have served to justify actions. The main conflict, the Indians versus the English, was started when the English attacked the Indians for attempting to create an alliance among themselves. The English attacked out of fear which they turn into hatred. This causes Monotto, who had up to that point tried to remain allies with the English, to hate them and seek revenge. Although each side views these plots of revenge as protecting their people, they only cause more conflict and in the end many unnecessary deaths.
     We also are able to see the alternate of hate, understanding and love. Magawisca saves Everell’s life. This action stops a possible chain of revenge and makes the English look favorably upon her. Again we see love prevail when Hope frees Nelema who recently saved Cradock’s life. Nelema then spends the rest of her life finding Hope’s sister and arranging a meeting. These expressions of love, although risky, end up benefiting everyone involved in some way while the expressions of hate are cowardly and in the end benefit no one. Despite this, both sides still find justifications for their hatred and continue attacking. This shows us that both these sides are fundamentally the same and that although the Indians may have been wrong in their aggression, the English were equally wrong.