Final Book Blog

The Witch of Blackbird Pond ended in a very satisfactory way. Throughout the book Kit was home sick and missing Barbados very dearly. Kit is at an age to where women start thinking about marrying and starting a family. She solves both of these issues throughout the book in a way that would bring her the most joy possible in her life.

On her trip over to America, Kit had befriended a boy named Nat. Their relationship revolved around making fun and mimicking each other. Throughout the story Nat kept popping up at the most unexpected times. While Kit and Hannah, the Witch, were talking 'a tall shadow of Nathaniel Eaton filled the doorway' (106). Kit had not expected to see Nat ever again after her departure from The Dolphin. This unexpected meeting brought their friendship back again.

In the end, Kit's 'love was Nat' (245). He appears on his very own boat and asks for Kit's hand in marriage. To cure her homesickness, the two decided that in the winter, they would 'sail south, to the Indies' and during summer, live in Saybrook with Hannah (248).

Throughout the book, I wanted Kit to marry William Ashby. He seemed like a well to do man and could care for Kit. But, by the end of the book, I started to see how much of a depressing man he was. When she decided to go home, and by mistake ran into Nat, it seemed like the right thing for her to sail away and marry Nat. The Witch of Blackbird Pond came to a very satisfactory ending for me. Kit ended up with love and the thought of going back home.

#5

"'Then the girl has been disobedient and deceitful.' Matthew clenched his fists in frustration.'The girl has been thoughtless and headstrong at time. But her upbringing has been such as to encourage that.'
'You admit then that her education has been irregular?'
'You can twist what I say as you will, Sam Talcott,' said Matthew in steely anger. 'But I swear before all present, on my word as a freeman of the colony, that the girl is no witch (212).'"

This piece of dialect is the first and only time that Matthew protects and shows the littlest sign of love towards Kit. He stands up for her in the meeting to say that she is no witch. This defines his character as someone that doesn't want to show any feelings outside but really does have strong feelings inside.

I found out that she ends up marrying Nat and moving back to Barbados for the summers!

#5

"When the last tuft was in place they sat on the fragrant springy cushion and rested, liking out over the sunny meadow toward the gleaming band of the river. For a long time neither of them spoke. Nat sat munching on a straw. Kit leaned her bare elbows back on the prickly thatch. The sun pressed against her with an almost tangible weight. All about them was a lazy humming of bees, broken by the sharp clatter of a locust. The queer rasping call of the blackbird rose from the grass, and now and then they caught the flash of scarlet on the glossy black wings.
This is the way I used to feel in Barbados, Kit thought with surprise (125)."

This is the second place in the book where Kit ever talks about her feelings of homesickness with someone. This helps to characterize both of these characters as people that might be New Englanders, but will break the rules of their colony. Both of them are laying on top of the 'witches' house. No one in this community ever ventures here. They fear and hate the 'witch', but Nat and Kit have both come to love the 'witch', Hannah. I am guessing and hoping that Kit will end up marrying Nat and not getting engaged to William.

I did not find out why puritains hate quakers. In the book, Kit asks her Aunt why this is so and she just replies saying they are hated because they are quakers. That is all the answer Kit recieves.

What will become of Nat?

#4

"As they came out from the shelter of the trees and the Great Meadows stretched before them, Kit caught her breath. She had not expected anything like this. From that first moment, in a way she could never explain, the Meadows claimed her and made her their won. As far as she could see they stretched on either side, a great level sea of green, broken here and there by a solitary graceful elm. Was it the fields of sugar cane they brought to mind, or the endless reach of the ocean to meet the sky? Or was it simply the sense of freedom and space and light that spoke to her of home (76)?"
This passage depicts the first time that Kit sets eyes of the Meadow. In this Meadow, there is a little shack where she meets the one person in the whole town that she can really talk to. This is the first time that she can compare somewhere in America to Barbados in a positive light. In the book, she always talks about missing home and its beauty, but this is now one beautiful place that reminds her of home. This one place gives her happieness. She has not been genuinely happy until this point. This also marks the beginning of her friendship with Hannah.

To answer my earlier question, yes Kit goes and sees Hannah again. Have not heard anymore about Nat. She talks about her homesickness for the first time with Hannah in this chapter.

Questions
Why do Puritans hate Quakers?

The Witch of Blackbird Pond #3

'"And her son, William," continued her aunt. Braced to meet the reserve and suspicion she had encountered at every introduction so far, Kit was startled to meet the unmistakably dazzled gaze of William Ashby, and unconsciously she rewarded him with the first genuine smiole she had managed this morning. Kit had no idea of what happened to her thin plain features when she smiled. William was speechless. As she turned to follow her aunt and Judith, Kit know for certain that he had not moved, and that if she looked back sheh would see his sturdy frame planted motionless in the path. She did not look back, but she knew (57).'
This excerpt is a change in the whole story. It gives her character a point of continually existing. Before this scene, she was an orphan and was only living for herself. She had no friends and only one Aunt that wanted her. Her Uncle would much rather chuck her out than keep her. But, this one man gives her someone that she can look forward to seeing and was to continually live for. This passage introduces another character that I feel is going to become a main character in the book.
To answer my question from before, I do not think that she will ever become accustomed to their ways of living. She is constantly breaking or bending the rules of how things are done in this society. So far, she has not changed to their society.

New Quesetions
What is Nat doing back in the book and what will end up of him being there?
Does she constantly go back and visit Hannah and does she ever tell the truth about where she is going?

'"These are the only clothes I have," protested Kit.
"If they are not suitable, I shall stay ere with Mercy."
Through the crystal Sabbath morning the Meeting House bell tolled steadily. Matthew Wood stood on the threshold of his home, his bushy eyebrows massed close together as he surveyed the three women who waited to accompany him. Beside the plain blue homespun and white linen which modestly clothed Aunt Rachel and Judith, Kit's flowered silk gave her the look of some vivid tropical bird lighted by mistake on a strange shore. The modish bonnet with curling white feathers seemed to her uncle a crowning affront.
"You will mock the Lord's assembly with such frippery," he roared.
This was the second time this morning that her uncle's wrath had descended on her head. An hour ago she had declined to go to Meeting, saying airily that she and her grandfather had seldom attended divine service, except for the Christmas Mass (50-1)."

This passage illustrates how this town revolves around religion. The family tries to fit in and not dress up. This is the exact opposite of Kit. All that she owns are fancy dresses that she wants to wear and show off all the time. Kit also is not Puritan. Kit believes in the Church of England. I am guessing that religion will come up as a problem later on in the book too. This passage also answers my question from before, the Uncle allows her to live and stay with them. This passage also gives more of a character to the Uncle. He is a very religious driven man that does not look for riches.

Questions
Does she ever stand up for the religion that she believes in or does she follow the puritan faith?
Will she ever become accustom to their way of living?

"She didn't want to admit how disapointing she found this first glimpse of America. The bleak line of shore surrounding the gray harbor was a disheartening contrast to the shimmering green and white that fringed the turquoise bay of Barbados which was her home. The earthen wall of the fortification that faced the river was bare and ugly, and the houses beyond were no more than plain wooden boxes (1-2)."

This passage starts to describe Kits character. She is a person that does not want to dissapoint anyone. This passage also forshadows some of the book. The first glimpse of America for her is very sad and depressing and her experiences so far in the book have been sad too. She is a wild girl that grew up in Barbados and lives in a puritan society that she does not agree with at all.

Questions
Does she ever tell anyone about her feelings?
Does her uncle let her live with them?