Previous
Chapter 10: Freedom
Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in Carry On, Mr. Bowditch, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Hard Work, Perseverance, and Success
Safety and Responsibility
Risk and Reward
The Growth and Development of America
Courage and Grief
Summary
Analysis
A few days before the end of Nat’s indenture term, Ben Meeker drifts into the chandlery and observes that it “seems like” Nat’s freedom lies close at hand. But, Ben points out, Nat remains bound to the trade, even if not by contract: his apprenticeship in the chandlery has not prepared him for any other job. That’s why Ben still hangs around even though his indenture ended years—if not decades—earlier. And even that trade isn’t guaranteed; war between the British and the French has been endangering American vessels and impinging on Salem’s business.
Bitter, unhappy Ben Meeker thinks that he’s letting Nat in on his own hopeless future, but really the visit serves only to remind Nat that he must make his way in the world on the strength of his own labor and hard work. He feels worried about his impending freedom, but not hopeless. His courage in the face of uncertainty serves him well—especially because impending war reminds him that life is always uncertain.
Themes
Ben maintains that America should have sided with the French when France’s Revolution began, and he pulls out an opinion piece he clipped from a newspaper that confirms his viewpoint and criticizes President Washington for his attempts to maintain neutrality. Nat refuses to look at the clipping and angrily shouts that the newspapers have no right to criticize the president. While they argue, Dr. Bentley quietly slips in and insinuates himself into their political argument. While he disagrees with Ben’s and the opinion writer’s perspective, he defends their right to hold it and he chastises Nat’s immature belief that human problems, like math, can be solved with single solutions. A free press and freedom of opinion provide necessary guardrails against despotism. Nat turns this idea over in his head.
The political argument between Ben and Nat draws readers’ focus to a founding ideal of American democracy: the freedom of the press. The book most directly engages with American values at this point, clearly siding with Dr. Bentley’s claim that unless people have the freedom to express themselves and debate ideas, no one will ever be truly free. It thus illustrates an important value and reminds readers about the stakes of being involved in the project of democracy. Nat shows his willingness to learn by correction and experience when he accepts correction and changes his mind based on Dr. Bentley’s words.
Themes
Then Dr. Bentley asks why Ben came around to talk to Nat anyway, and Nat replies that the older man certainly enjoys groaning about hard times—including Nat’s impending freedom. Dr. Bentley invites Nat to join him and Captain Gibaut as they conduct a survey of Salem over the next few months. Nat eagerly agrees.
Dr. Bentley’s invitation proves that Ben made his own limited future when he gave up on himself and his prospects after being indentured. In contrast, courageous and hard-working Nat didn’t waste nine years as an apprentice; instead, he used the time to lay a foundation on which to build a new career.
Themes
As soon as Nat closes the chandlery for the night, he brings his good news to Mary. She expresses relief that she’ll always know his whereabouts, unlike the whereabouts of Hab, William, Samuel, and David. She tells Nat how hard it is for a woman to watch her man sail away and to wait at home for months or even years without word of his safety. Within a month, Sammy’s ship returns without him; he died of fever in the West Indies. Other dangers increase, too, like the chances of Salem ships suffering run-ins with naval vessels and privateers from England and France.
Although Nat still seems to regret the loss of a life at sea, Mary reminds him how dangerous and uncertain that life is. Death lurks at sea, and it requires great courage to face it either directly (as David, Hab, Samuel, and William do) or indirectly, as the loved ones they leave behind (Mary and Nat) do.
Themes
Get the entire Carry On, Mr. Bowditch LitChart as a printable PDF.
As the survey nears completion, Captain Gibaut signs on to command one of Elias Derby’s ships on a voyage to the Isle of Bourbon (modern day Réunion). He asks Nat to join him as ship’s clerk. It’s an easy job for a man like Nat with a head for figures; and between ports, Gibaut promises, he won’t have any shipboard responsibilities. Nat readily agrees, eager to go to sea and grateful for the opportunity to continue his self-directed studies between stops. What’s more, Captain Gibaut tells Nat that he’ll get space aboard for his own private venture: he can bring his own goods for sale at any port where the vessel, the Henry, calls.
Opportunity knocks unexpectedly for Nat yet again, but only because he did the hard work of completing his own education. His perseverance during the long years of his indenture—and even the bookkeeping apprenticeship itself—pays off richly in the end. And the voyage presents an opportunity for Nat to earn even greater returns if he’s willing to risk some of his hard-earned wages on cargo.
Themes
Nat’s venture will be small—he will only have a little over $100 to his name when they finish the survey. But if he chooses wisely, Gibaut promises, he can make three or four times his investment. Gibaut encourages Nat to ask Monsieur Bonnefoy, a native of the Isle of Bourbon, for advice and Bonnefoy suggests boots. Nat invests his money in footwear.
The greater the rewards, the greater the risks. If Nat sinks his cash into a private venture and it doesn’t sell well, he won’t have much money to fall back on when he returns. But life has taught him to work hard, to learn as much as he can, and to face the future with courage; these factors together mitigate the danger of making a bad choice.
Themes
In preparation for the voyage, Nat rereads his navigation notebook and borrows one of Captain Gibaut’s old logbooks to study. David returns safely from his voyage and although he sympathizes with Mary’s sadness over Samuel’s death, he chides her for blaming the sea. Men die of fevers on land, too, he reminds her. David greets the news of Nat’s impending voyage with enthusiasm. When Nat confesses he’s unsure which notebooks to take with him, afraid of losing them in the event of a shipwreck, David encourages him to bring them all. After all, if the notebooks go down, Nat will most likely join them. But, as men load cargo onto the Henry for her voyage, Nat learns to his dismay that the easily angered Captain Gibaut has had a falling out with Elias Derby and will no longer be commanding the ship. Nat worries that his luck has run out.
David reminds Mary that death and suffering are inescapable parts of life. If a person cannot hope to avoid them, only finding happiness in the moment and facing the future with courage can give meaning to life. David models courage in the face of danger; although he doesn’t deny the existence of suffering, he doesn’t let it rule his life either. And while Nat initially struggles to adopt a similar attitude, he decides to throw himself and his notebooks wholeheartedly into a life at sea. He knows that he takes a grave risk in doing so, but also that the potential rewards—experience, the potential for making money off his venture—will pave the path toward his future.
Themes
