For Marie, there is a consistent struggle towards upward social mobility. This struggle is a reflection of her desire to be both a good wife at such a tender age and to advance her husband's station. At the same time, her husband, a young and ambitious tradesman is attempting to validate himself through business success. Their struggle within the colonial society is a reflection of the struggle for survival and upwards social mobility. The defiance of their character to conventional norms and their driving ambition are both representative of the individualism that is evident in this society.
For Charles Renaut, the struggle of being a fisherman is evident in his letter. Moore carefully portrays Renaut's life as a reflection of the both the classicism within colonial society as well as the holistic portrayal of the fisherman's lifestyle. Renaut feels himself caught between the middle as he fears to leave Louisbourg because of its fertile fishing grounds at the mouth of the Lawrence. At the same time though his loneliness the driving force behind his inability to take a position within the garrison city despite the importance of his trade all harkens to his individualism. The importance of Renaut's character is that it examines a completely different aspect of the Louisbourg society, rather than observing the actual actions of the townspeople, Renaut is caught in between. Despite this his ambitions and constant desires reflects the overall colonial will and the strong belief they have in themselves in order to survive within...
Lelarge's social position is a reflection of his professional merit; however Moore's purpose in this character is to reveal the moral conflict that exists within this colonial environment. Lelarge in order to maintain and advance his economic position must transport slaves as well as other trades that he finds morally unfulfilling, however he is afraid to quit because it would ill-afford his current position within the Louisbourg society. Moore characterizes Lelarge as a conflict unlike the above perspectives in that he does not attempt to find the battle between physical and emotional survival, but rather focuses on moral survival. The triumph of Lelarge reflects the above themes.
The final portrait within this story and one of the most important is in the
military figure of Sergeant Koller. In understanding Koller and his actions, we have a greater sense of Louisbourg and its physical importance. The location of Louisbourg at the centerpiece of French Colonies makes it the de facto capital of the French establishment of North America. As a result, it is one of the most heavily guarded despite its relatively small populace. For Sergeant Koller, he has conferred social prestige because of his title as an officer; however he yearns to prove himself in battle because the lackluster safety of his environment makes him feel at least to a small degree wasted. It is finally through the
attack by the British that Koller shows his real colors, and it is through this event we begin to see all of the themes that Moore wants to
play out show itself in this popular
history.
Moore uses a litany of characters to bring about a historically accurate and extremely lucid account of life in colonial era. The importance of this account is that it depicts how life within the colonial era especially for the migrant class is never easy and that the central tie for all of these individuals is their desire to survive and a fearless individualism.
