Women's literacy in nineteenth century Hope Leslie

¶ … Hope Leslie: Or, Early Times in the Massachusetts by Catharine Maria Sedgwick. Specifically, it will contain a critical analysis of the text. "Hope Leslie" is a romantic novel that sheds light on Puritanical views of the time, and involves two young heroines who both love the same man. This novel indicates the differences between Hope, a young New England Puritan, and Magawisca, a young Native American Pequod. They both love Everell Fletcher, and they certainly both are deserving of his love. That Hope ends up with Everell is romantic, but it is also quite representative of the time this novel was written, where there was still a sharp division between the Native Americans (savages) and the New England Puritans. This novel illustrates that division, and a society that was unwilling to accept racial differences in their relationships, and in their lives.

Written in 1827, "Hope Leslie" is the story of a young Puritan girl living in New England. Hope is the daughter of Alice, William Fletcher's first love. When Alice dies, she sends her two daughters, Faith (Mary) and Hope (Alice), to live with William and his family in New England. At the same time, another "orphan," Magawisca, the daughter of a Pequot chief and a Native American captive, also comes to the family to act as a servant. However, Magawisca is a princess in her own world, and a regal one at that. Sedgwick writes, "The Indian stranger was tall for her years, which did not exceed fifteen. Her form was slender, flexible, and graceful; and there was a freedom and loftiness in her movement which, though tempered with modesty, expressed a consciousness of high birth" (Sedgwick 1-39-40). Thus, the two heroines, both about the same age, enter the household at the same time, (although Hope is with William Fletcher, and does not meet Magawisca, or the rest of the family before they are massacred), and encounter Everell, William Fletcher's son, who they both come to love. Sedgwick describes Everell as a "fair ruddy boy of fourteen; his smooth brow and bright curling hair, bore the stamp of the morning of life; hope and confidence and gladness beamed in the falcon glance of his keen blue eye; and love and frolic played about his lips" (Sedgwick 1-39). Everell stands up for Magawisca almost immediately, while the rest of the family immediately begins trying to convert her into their "Christian" ways. From the minute she enters the household, the family repeatedly tells her she came from savages, and should be thankful to be where she is. They totally ignore her background and her culture, and want her to do the same. This indicates the disregard the English settlers had for the natives, and illustrates how they could take their land from them so quickly and so unemotionally. They felt the natives were nothing but uneducated savages, and that they had no meaning or reason for being unless they converted to Christianity. The two heroines show the very different lives two young women at the same time, in the same area, could, and did live, and they also show the prejudice and misunderstanding that was so prevalent at the time. Hope comes to love Everell too, as her letters to him in England clearly show. She loves him so much that she even steps aside when she believes he loves Esther instead of her.

Written in 1827, many critics consider "Hope Leslie" Catharine Maria Sedgwick's finest novel. In it, she illustrates early Puritan attitudes toward religion, the family, and the Native Americans, while telling the romantic tale of Faith, Hope, and Magawisca. One critic notes, "Critics universally proclaimed it an American masterpiece, and Sedgwick secured national and international fame" (Saulsbury 353) after the publication of this historical romance novel. Sedgwick's own life mirrors some of the situations in the novel, although she never married. In fact, she was a unique woman for her time, who worked for causes she believed in and chose a career over a home and family. Perhaps that is why her novels are so memorable, because they consumed her entire life. One biographer notes, "She wrote three more novels and over 100 stories in which she challenged the social and political mores of the country. She advocated reforms in tenement conditions, the end of dueling, and religious toleration" (Richards 332). "Hope Leslie" certainly challenges the mores of the country because it takes a serious look at Puritanical belief systems, and portrays most of the Native Americans sympathetically, while showing how prejudiced whites often mistreated them. Sedgwick was a feminist writer long before her time, and her own views filter into her novels, where she creates strong and vital heroines who take matters into their own hands. There are some rumors that one of Sedgwick's own relatives was captured by Indians, which may have also influenced her writing of this novel (Bardes and Gossett). Sedgwick is famous for her romantic novels, and this novel is no exception, because the underlying story is of Hope and her happy marriage after many misunderstandings and twists.

Both young women have many similarities besides their age, living arrangement, and growing regard for Everell. They are both strong and courageous women who will stand up for what they believe in. One critic notes that they both share traits of another heroine, "Rebecca/Rowena" of an earlier interracial novel by Sir Walter Scott, "Ivanhoe," where Rebecca is Jewish and finally cast away as a suitable match for the hero. Critic Cagidemetrio writes, "Rebecca's traits are given both to Magawisca and to Hope; both speak for the 'new woman,' the republican female citizen of the postrevolutionary nation; they are both bold and independent, open-minded and generous" (Cagidemetrio 34). Before Hope's arrival, in an extremely brave act, Magawisca defies her own father to save the family that has taken her in. "Magawisca darted before the Indian who was advancing towards Mrs. Fletcher with an uplifted hatchet. 'You shall hew me to pieces ere you touch her,' she said, and planted herself as a shield before her benefactress" (Sedgwick 1-107). Later, she loses her arm saving Everell from certain death in the forest. "Magawisca, springing from the precipitous side of the rock, screamed -- "Forbear!" And interposed her arm. It was too late. The blow was levelled -- force and direction given -- the stroke aimed at Everell's neck, severed his defender's arm, and left him unharmed" (Sedgwick 1-156). She would give her own life to save Everell, and her bravery is an important part of her character that she shares with Hope.

Hope is also strong and courageous. She has the strength to stand up to Mr. Fletcher after she takes Cradock to Nelema to cure his snakebite. She thinks to herself, "I made no reply, but mentally resolved that I would task my power and ingenuity to the utmost to justify Nelema'" (Sedgwick 1-177). Later, Hope is the one who frees Nelema from prison to flee from the death sentence the Court handed down because she was a witch. She is witty and brave, and it is easy to see how Everell could fall in love with her, even from the distance of England. In addition, she is strong enough to stand aside when she thinks Everell loves another. Sedgwick writes, "Hope flew to her side, took her hand, placed it in Everell's, threw her arm around Esther, kissed her cheek, and darted out of the house" (Sedgwick 2-71). She is also quick enough to escape from the Indians, and sure of herself enough to make it back to civilization. Moreover, she is brave enough to help Everell plan Magawisca escape from prison. "At the instant the prison door was closed, Magawisca divested herself of her hideous disguise, and proceeded on with Hope, to the place where Everell was awaiting them, with the necessary means to transport her beyond the danger of pursuit" (Sedgwick 2-234). She is unselfish, and that is part of her strength, and her charm.

Both girls literally grow up with Everell, and both initially see him as a beloved brother. He teaches Magawisca English, and she in turn teaches him about the customs of her people. Sedgwick writes, "She, in her turn, doth take much delight in describing to him the customs of her people, and relating their traditionary tales, which are like pictures, captivating to a youthful imagination. He hath taught her to read, and reads to her Spenser's rhymes, and many other books of the like kind" (Sedgwick 1-55). Later, her real feelings for Everell are shown as he helps her escape back to her people. "Her affection for Everell Fletcher had the tenderness, the confidence, the sensitiveness of woman's love; but it had nothing of the selfishness, the expectation, or the earthliness of that passion" (Sedgwick 2-149). He is clearly interested in the young native girl, with her captivating looks and exotic background, and it would not be difficult to see them as a couple, except for the mores of the time, which kept strict boundaries between the Christians and the "savages." Even Hope, a good and decent woman, cannot bear to think that her own sister is married to Magawisca's brother. "God forbid!' exclaimed Hope, shuddering as if a knife had been plunged in her bosom. 'My sister married to an Indian!'" (Sedgwick 2-27). In fact, she pleads with her sister to leave her husband and the only life she knows and loves, to return to the white world. She does not take her sister's happiness into account, only that she is living with Godless savages. Sadly, even Hope cannot use her powers of reason to see that her sister is infinitely happier with the only people she has known since her capture. This does not make her sister a "heathen," but Hope cannot see that. She indicates that no matter how enlightened a person is, or wants to be, they always harbor prejudices, and many of these prejudices are brought on by societal beliefs, rather than real facts and figures. Hope knows Magawisca is not an evil person, and can see her sister is happy and in love, yet because of society's fear of the Natives, she cannot believe that a "Christian" such as her sister could possibly lower herself to live with savage Indians. Sadly, she cannot see that it is often the "Christians" who act as savages, and that is one of the morals of Sedgwick's work, to show that Puritanical mores were often not the right beliefs.

Always, the biggest difference between these two women is their race. If Magawisca had been born white, her future would have been far different, and she might have won Everell's heart. She certainly remained in it throughout his life. She was brave, beautiful, and strong. Interestingly, everyone loves and respects Hope, she is the perfect heroine, while everyone distrusts Magawisca, even though she saved Everell's life. She is "tawny," and not to be trusted, even though her heart is good and decent, just like Hope's. In the end, Magawisca's fate is intertwined with Hope's and she relies on hope to set her free. The women are more alike than ever, because Magawisca also proves to be unselfish when she tells Everell and Hope they have always been fated to be together, and she cannot stay with them. She is noble and wise, and knows Hope and Everell better than they know themselves. They respect her, and that is the first real respect she has been shown by the whites. She commands the respect of her own people, and finally, the whites understand just how strong and good she really is. Thus, Magawisca is the tragic heroine of this novel, because she cannot live with Everell, who she loves, but she does get to spend her life with her family, who she also loves. She gives up part of herself, literally, to save Everell, and she is still seen as the enemy by the Puritans. She and Hope are alike, but they can never be the same because of their backgrounds, and their races. Magawisca is just as good and decent as Hope, but the Puritans, except for Hope and Everell, will never admit that, or even admit the two women have similarities. All they can see are the differences that come between them, and it makes Magawisca a tragic figure, because she represents how the natives were caught between two worlds, and could not survive in either. The whites drove them from their lands, forced them to turn their backs on their culture and society, and literally rearranged their entire lives or killed them. The natives are the tragic characters in this novel, and the underlying theme of the novel is how mistreated and misunderstood they really were. Even the hero notes that Magawisca's race is more important than her heart and soul. Everell notes, "Yes, Digby, I might have loved her -- might have forgotten that nature had put barriers between us'" (Sedgwick 2-69). Thus, Everell allows society, and society's mores to dictate how he should feel and act, and Sedgwick illustrates the problems with these ideas of society when she makes Magawisca such a tragic and believable heroine.

The author uses her understanding of Puritan morals and women of the time to create quite believable characters who act according to their upbringing, but show signs of creativity, pathos, and psychological well being. Hope is a good and decent human being who can tell the difference between right and wrong and acts according to her heart, and so is Magawisca. They could have been sisters in another lifetime, but in Puritan times, there were too many barriers between them. In this novel, whether it is right or wrong, all the power and status lie with the whites. They have the power over the Natives, as the trial for Magawisca clearly shows. Many of the Puritan leaders did not have the best interests of the Indians at heart, and because they wielded all the power, they could drive the Indians away and push them further and further away from civilization. They also had the power to welcome the Natives into their world, but they did not do that. Even Magawisca, the orphan of the Indian Wars is not welcomed into the home as a homeless and needy child, but as a servant. Only because of her race and sex is she powerless, and Sedgwick shows the folly of both those ideas when she makes Magawisca an "Indian angel." She is showing that the whites do not understand or care about the Natives; they only care to wield their power over them, and make them slaves or servants, or eradicate them from their lives and towns.

Hope and Everell live "happily ever after," but the natives do not, and that is the other major difference between the two women. Hope looks forward to a good life with her new husband, while all Magawisca can look forward to is the eventual destruction of her people and the only way of life they know. In addition, while Hope helps Magawisca escape, which is certainly the right thing to do, she still does not fully accept her sister's happiness with the Indians. She would rather have Faith come back and live an unhappy existence with the whites. This is the ultimate way the Puritans and others looked at the Indians of the time. They were violent and bothersome, and they were not "good" Indians unless they had been Americanized and Christianized. For example, while critics of the time were generally quite favorable toward the novel, they did not appreciate Magawisca's character and her sympathetic portrayal. One wrote,

"From our knowledge of her race," the reviewer explained, "we should have looked in any place for such a character, rather than in an Indian wigwam." In their view, the romance genre did not give Sedgwick permission to create a heroine who, they believed, could not actually exist: "Magawisca is the first genuine Indian angel, that we have met with" (Saulsbury 357).

Thus, critics of the time may have appreciated Sedgwick's style and motives, but they did not appreciate her "good" Indian characters, and did not believe the two words were synonymous. Another critic notes that often, Sedgwick's depiction of Faith is a prejudiced as her description of Magawisca at times. She writes of Faith, "She and her Indian husband finally succeed in escaping to the wilderness, the only interracial couple in the frontier romance to achieve a happy ending. Faith is not the novel's white heroine, however; she is more expendable than Hope Leslie in terms of the plot, and-depicted as almost a moron -- in terms of character as well" (Barnett 119). This critical discord allows her work to be even more meaningful today. From comments such as these, readers can fully understand the depth of distrust and hatred there was between the whites and the Natives, and how it seemed there could be no hope of reconciliation or a change of heart on either side.

Obviously, this novel is not received the same way today, as it was when it was written, as many critics' reactions have shown. At the time, the novel was meant for young girls, which was why its' basic theme was historical romance. The ideals of many people have also changed, and the rigid prejudice of the Puritans in the book now seems tame and old-fashioned. Thus, a reader today will see far different characters that a reader of 1827 would. Then, many of the readers probably sympathized with the views of the Puritans and the racial views of the Natives. In fact, some felt Sedgwick was far too sympathetic toward the natives, while today her writing, although certainly more open than most, still seems prejudicial and racist. Underlying her understanding are still ideas that the Natives are savage, violent, and even have "exotic" looks that are unappealing to most whites. She writes of Magawisca, "Her face, although marked by the peculiarities of her race, was beautiful, even to a European eye" (Sedgwick 1-40). Thus, today, Sedgwick's style and purpose may seem stilted, but underlying the language and romantic themes is a novel that can still raise people's awareness and understanding of how racial issues have divided the country throughout our history.

The reader certainly has a role in making this text meaningful. One reader might only dwell on the stilted language and style that was common when Sedgwick wrote the novel, and not be able to see the underlying themes and meaning. It is a very long book, and some readers may not read the entire novel, but skip here and there, and so miss some of the most enduring actions and scenes, from the poignant scene in the graveyard to the funny and yet harrowing scene in the jail when Hope helps Magawisca escape in men's clothing. The situations are not modern, and some readers may miss their importance. However, the characters are so well drawn that it would be difficult to miss the importance of wit, strength, and charm in both the women. They are very much alike, and that might rankle some early readers, because white women and Indians were certainly not supposed to have any common characteristics. Today, that simply makes both women more sympathetic, but it was not nearly as acceptable at the time it was written. Thus, the reader of one generation may have a totally different conception after they read it from the reader of an earlier generation. Today, the reader has many other ethnic and social considerations that have come since this novel was written, and although the problems of the Natives and Puritan women are clear, they do not seem quite as compelling as they would have when the novel was written. There are many more considerations today that these heroines did not have to contend with, such as globalization, nuclear war, and environmental challenges that seem more compelling in terms of social and cultural concerns. However, the novel not only shows a simpler time in American life, it shows that important worries have always affected Americans. Hope Leslie may not have had to worry about nuclear warfare, but she had the very real worry of Indian attack and massacre, and that was just as frightening to the people of her time as the troubles facing us today.