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Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in Across Five Aprils, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Coming of Age
The Realities of War
Self-Determination
Personal Conviction
Hardship, Suffering, and Beauty
Summary
Analysis
The papers carry news of another disastrous defeat in May 1863. In Chancellorsville, Confederate General Robert E. Lee’s superior military leadership wins the battle even though the Union forces vastly outnumber the Confederate forces. The hard-drinking, hard-fighting Union General at Chancellorsville, Joseph Hooker, represents the kind of leadership the North wants after the disastrous mistakes of McClellan and others throughout the winter—at least according to the newspapers. Yet Hooker “fold[s] helplessly” in the battle, after which 17,000 Union soldiers are either dead or prisoners of war. Fear for Shadrach’s life and safety haunts Jethro and Jenny until a letter finally arrives in late June.
The necessity of developing a strong character remains important to Jethro as he watches yet another Union hero fall in the estimation of the world. But Jethro has already demonstrated his capacity to let justice and mercy guide him and to make his own way in the world, so in many ways he seems more mature than the adults conducting the war. Again, General Lee’s discipline and leadership contrast sharply with the ranks of unruly and self-focused Union generals. And, as always, poor leadership decisions have harsher consequences for lowly soldiers, leaving Jethro and Jenny in agony until they hear that Shad lives.
Themes
Shad’s letter reflects his amazement at surviving Antietam, Fredericksburg, and Chancellorsville, and he sternly warns Jenny that she must not count on their luck continuing. Many a sweet girl’s heart has been broken amid the “massive waste of life” in these three battles. John sends a somewhat more cheerful letter, and Eb—somewhere near Vicksburg— writes to tell the family of his gratitude for being able to rejoin his unit, despite the hard work of soldiering and the prevalence of malaria among the ranks. Eb contends that the Confederate forces in Vicksburg are “beginning to sweat,” but the newspapers don’t share his optimism—their opinion of General Grant has remained low since the previous spring.
Thus far, Shad has been lucky to survive so many battles unscathed, and his letter both suggests a fear that this luck will come to an end and reminds his friends—and readers—of the harsh reality of chaos and death in war. And the fate of Eb, who counts his lucky stars to have been granted amnesty for desertion despite the difficult and uncomfortable work of soldiering, further shows how the reality of war lies so far from the glorious ideal people in the North imagined in the summer of 1861.
Themes
The Union forces still lack the leadership of a general like the Confederacy’s Robert E. Lee, who seems to be preparing to attack Washington, D.C. itself. Worried Northerners start to wonder whether they can win against him. Then comes the Battle of Gettysburg in Pennsylvania. As the dust from that roaring clash settles, it becomes clear that the Union forces have achieved another key, if imperfect, victory. Despite—or perhaps because of—the immense loss of life on both sides, the Union Army allows the Confederates to retreat and fails to take advantage of the opportunity to deal a decisive blow. Then, within days of Gettysburg, Grant’s forces take Vicksburg. People with short memories turn to praising Grant almost as much as they recently disparaged him.
Although Jethro disagrees ideologically with General Lee and the Confederacy he fights to protect, he respects the man’s character. Through this the book continues to make a case for the importance of judging people based on their actions. But like his friend and mentor, Shad, Jethro has a growing admiration for Ulysses S. Grant, which reminds readers that a person need not be perfect to be honorable and good. Grant’s personal failures (like drinking) and military defeats matter less in the long run than the embarrassments that other generals, like Halleck, suffered, because the book portrays Grant as a man truly and wholly devoted to the Northern cause—and thus a worthy example for young Jethro.
Themes
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Shadrach’s luck runs out at Gettysburg; after the battle his Aunt Victoria sends word to Matt via letter that he was wounded there. He has arrived at a hospital in Washington, but his wounds have become gangrenous, and she fears he will die soon. She offers Jenny a place to stay, should Matt allow her to make the long trip out East. Ross Milton, visiting on the same day Aunt Victoria’s letter arrives, encourages Matt to let Jenny go and volunteers to accompany her himself, despite the pain such a long trip will cause him. Even if Shad has just one chance in a hundred of surviving, Matt decides to send Jenny to him, in part to make up for his refusal to allow their marriage before.
Shadrach’s near-fatal wound at Gettysburg reminds readers of the horrific true nature of war—and it reflects historical fact, since nearly as many soldiers died of infected battle wounds as died in battle itself. Early in the novel, Matt imposed his will on his daughter to prevent her marriage to Shad because of her young age; he now regrets overstepping her liberty in that way and makes amends by sending her to Washington.
Themes
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Ross Milton and Jenny set off early the next morning. Jethro can’t bring himself to work after their departure and finds himself at the schoolhouse, surveying the mess that the terrible teacher who replaced Shad has left there He considers trying to clean it up for Shad’s return, then he shakes his head and reminds himself how unlikely Shad is to recover.
When Jethro visits the schoolhouse, his journey reminds readers that the war leaves practically no one and nothing untouched. The cozy cabin that once alleviated the hardship of cold and lonely winter nights remains empty—and Jethro faces the real possibility that it will stay so forever. Hardship and suffering lie close at hand, especially in times of war.
Themes
Miraculously, over the course of the summer, letters from Milton and Jenny keep the family apprised of Shad’s slow recovery. And, by mail, Matt finally consents to Shad and Jenny’s marriage. As the new Mrs. Shadrach Yale, Jenny finds herself happy and busy in Washington, caring not just for her new husband but other soldiers recuperating in the hospital alongside him. Jethro treasures her letters and the overwhelming sense of relief he feels with the knowledge that Shad will survive. He writes Jenny a letter, using Ross Milton’s grammar book to check his spelling, telling her how much he misses her company and congratulating her on her marriage.
With Jenny’s marriage and semi-permanent move to Washington, Jethro’s journey to adulthood has nearly ended, even though he’s still just 12 years old. He’s now the only Creighton child left at home, and he faces the prospect of maintaining the farm and supporting his parents independently the following spring. Nevertheless, he takes on this new phase of life with equanimity, writing a letter to his sister as one adult to another.
Themes
