How we cite our quotes:
Quote #1
“You are not a Puritan then?”
“Puritan? You mean a Roundhead? One of those traitors who murdered King Charles?”
A spark of protest flashed across his mild gray eyes. He started to speak, then thought better of it, and asked gently, “You are going to stay here in Connecticut?” (1.67-69)
Kit and the Wood family don’t see eye to eye on the subject of politics. Kit and her grandfather were royalists: loyal to the Church of England and the king. The Wood family, meanwhile, are Puritans, which means that they have left the Church of England. They are also critical of England and its King.
Quote #2
“Your grandfather was a King’s man, I reckon?”
“He was a Royalist, sir. Here in America are you not also subjects of King James?”
Without answering, Matthew Wood left the room. (3.73-75)
The question of political allegiance rears its head as we learn that the Wood family do not ally themselves with the king.
Quote #3
“So, young lady, your grandfather was knighted for loyalty by King Charles, you say? A great honor, a very great honor indeed. And I take it he was a loyal subject of our good King James as well?”
“Why, of course, sir.”
“And you yourself? You are a loyal subject also?”
“How could I be otherwise, sir?” Kit was puzzled.
“There are some who seem to find it possible,” remarked the minister, staring meaningfully at a ceiling beam. (6.5-9)
Reverend Dr. Bulkeley was a real-life person, and he is true to his biography here as he plays the part of a Royalist, someone who is loyal to the king of England. He is in contrast to Uncle Matthew and many of the other Puritans. Here he suspects Uncle Matthew of attempting to tamper with Kit’s loyalty to the crown.
Quote #4
“Surrender our charter and we lose all,” he thundered. “That charter was given to Connecticut by King Charles twenty-five years ago. It guarantees every right and privilege we have earned, the very ground we stand on and the laws we have made for ourselves. King James has no right to go back on his brother’s pledge.” (7.21)
Matthew will not submit to having his freedoms reneged by a different monarch. He values personal freedoms and liberties over allegiance to the crown.
Quote #5
“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.” (15.23)
How would you describe Uncle Matthew’s attitudes regarding politics and gender? Why were woman not thought to be able to discuss such matters?
Quote #6
And Andros! He was a true cavalier, with his fine embroidered coat, his commanding air, and the wealth of dark curls that flowed over his velvet collar. How elegantly he sat the saddle of his borrowed horse. Why, he was a gentleman, an office of the King’s Dragoons, a knight! Who were these common resentful farmers to dispute his royal right? He made their defiance seem childish. (15.36)
Governor Andros is a man that is closely tied to the powerful English crown. How does Kit view him here? What is significant about the way in which he is described? How does this differ from the way in which Uncle Matthew views the Governor?
Quote #7
“And the charter?”
“It was there, all the time, in the middle of the table in plain sight. Sir Edmond made a long speech about how much better off we were all going to be. It got dark, and finally he asked for lights. Before long the room got hot and full of smoke and when someone opened a window, the draft blew out the candles. It took quite a few minutes to get them lighted. Nobody moved. Far as I could see everybody stayed right in their places. But when the candles were lit the charter had disappeared. They looked high and low for it, all over the room, and never found a trace.” (15.45)
When Governor Andros comes to take over control of the colony, the men (including William Ashby) steal the charter so that it will be safe. What does the charter represent? Why is it so important?
Quote #8
“It seems we have no authority here in Connecticut to declare out own holidays. His Excellency, the new governor, will declare a Thanksgiving when it pleases him.” (16.1)
Governor Andros cancels the Thanksgiving holiday. This is one of the many complaints the Wethersfield townspeople have about losing the ability to govern themselves.
Quote #9
“Katherine Tyler, though art here accused that not having the fear of God before thine eyes thou hast had familiarity with Satan the grand enemy of God and man, and that by his institution and help thou hast in a preternatural way afflicted and done harm to the bodies and estates of sundry of His Majesty’s subjects, in the third year of His Majesty’s reign, for which by the law of God and the low of the Colony thou deservest to die.” (19.15)
The law of Colony brings charges against Kit for witchcraft. Is this fair?