Geraldine Brooks is masterful in creating a beautifully engaging story about the tensions between English colonizers in the 1640s and the Natives on Martha’s Vineyard and Cambridge area, where Harvard is thriving as an institute for English settlers. Bethia Mayfield is the protagonist and narrator whose point of view prevails in this poignant story that is not only about colonization but also about gender roles, education, and growth.
Bethia is the daughter of a minister. Her father, Minister Mayfield, doesn’t believe in Indian genocide. He just wants to convert the Natives to Christianity. While he is working on conversion, Bethia is intrigued by the Native religious and spiritual beliefs. Although Bethia is deeply committed to her Christian faith, she can see commonalities in the Native belief system of Cheeshahteaumuck, whom she renames Caleb, and the Christian beliefs. Bethia is also interested in learning Latin and other subjects along with her brother, Makepeace. This desire contrasts with the European view that men must be literate and educated and women should be responsible for domestic chores.
Bethia’s mother died in childbirth, and she is left to care for her little sister. Her father and grandfather expect Makepeace to work on his studies even though it is difficult for him, yet academics are far more exciting and attainable for Bethia. When Bethia’s father dies, her grandfather indentures her to Master Corlett of the Corlett Cambridge Latin School, where Makepeace, Caleb, and another Native named Joel will prepare for college. Although Caleb eventually converts to Christianity so that he can matriculate at Harvard, he and Bethia, whom he calls Storm Eyes, have a remarkable friendship that leads the reader to believe there may be a romantic relationship.
Bethia and Caleb teach each other about their languages and cultures and establish an unconventional relationship for the era. Both are intelligent and perceptive. Through Bethia’s commentary, the reader realizes how families of English settlers’ experiences differ from those of the Natives. Bethia also finds time to absorb many of the lessons intended for the boys as she goes about her domestic duties at the Corlett School. Additionally, she became quite outspoken about several issues that had me wondering if she would survive. But, of course, she lived to tell a well-developed story that effectively uses language and narrative to give us a glimpse of real life in Massachusetts in the 1600s.
