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Chapter 12
Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in The Witch of Blackbird Pond, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Puritan Hypocrisy
Love, Values, and Attraction
Difference, Prejudice, and Discrimination
Home and Belonging
Sexism
Summary
Analysis
A husking bee approaches, and Judith can’t wait. At the husking bee, there will be music and food while everyone husks corn together. She merrily tells Kit that she’ll try to make sure that William gets a red ear of corn. Suspecting the romantic implication of the red ears of corn, Kit blushes deeply.
The husking bee is the first party that the Puritans have in the book. Although the Puritans otherwise come off as stern and grim, the husking bee shows that there is variation in their lives, and they do sometimes have festive occasions. Husking bees even provide an opportunity for romance: according to tradition, if someone found a red ear of corn during a husking bee, that person got to kiss someone of their choosing.
Themes
Judith and Kit set out together to harvest the last of the corn from the meadow. On the way there, Judith talks about her plans to make a move on John. Judith suspects that John hasn’t brought up marriage yet because he’s a poor student, but she’s certain that he loves her all the same. When Kit begins to express her doubts, Judith cuts her off, reminding her to think about William’s intent to marry soon. William is “like [Judith]. When he’s made up his mind he isn’t going to wait forever.”
Judith’s focus on John’s finances highlights one of their important differences: Judith cares a lot more about wealth and material goods than John does. While Judith and John don’t have much in common, she is similar to William. She even says as much to Kit when reminding Kit that William will likely propose soon—both she and William are act quickly once they make up their minds.
Themes
Kit unhappily wishes that Judith hadn’t reminded her of William. Even though she is planning on marrying William—she would have a life of comfort with a man who is “infatuated” with her—she can’t help but feel dread when thinking about it.
Even though Kit likes luxury and being pampered, she’s realizing that she can’t be happy with just that. She doesn’t particularly enjoy William’s company, and she dreads the thought of living the rest of her life with a man whom she doesn’t feel comfortable talking to.
Themes
On the way back from the Meadows, Kit has just enough time for a brief visit with Hannah. Afterward, while walking back alone to the Woods’ house (Judith has already left the Meadows), Kit comes across John. Kit explains to him that she’s coming from Hannah’s house. Like everyone else, John looks shocked as he reminds her that Hannah doesn’t have a good reputation; Kit may tarnish her own reputation by visiting her.
Like the rest of the Puritans in Wethersfield, John is prejudiced against Hannah because she is a Quaker (and, according to the townspeople, a witch). He is particularly worried for Kit’s reputation, as he knows that the townspeople may become suspicious of Kit if she is visiting someone whom they think is a witch—they might think she is a witch as well.
Themes
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Kit launches into an argument in defense of Hannah, explaining how the lonely woman has helped her grow. John listens intently. When there’s a pause, John reminisces about how much their lives have changes since when they first arrived together in Wethersfield. He congratulates Kit on her upcoming engagement and marriage to William.
Kit is very loyal to Hannah, and she tries to get John to understand that Hannah isn’t a witch—she’s actually a very kind woman who has helped Kit feel at home in Connecticut. John doesn’t shut her down like Matthew has—he listens to what Kit says, which shows his compassion and suggests that he may be more open-minded than many of the other Puritans.
Themes
Not wanting to think about William, Kit changes the subject by asking John whether he’ll be there at the husking bee. He hesitates and asks if Mercy will be there. When Kit points out that Mercy can’t travel so far, John then says he’ll just spend the evening at the Woods’ instead, where he will have a chance to talk alone with Mercy.
Kit’s distaste for William makes it increasingly clear that she and he do not make a good match. Meanwhile, John seems very interested in speaking alone with Mercy, which suggests that he may love Mercy, and not Judith.
Themes
Suddenly realizing that John’s visits have all been for Mercy, Kit rejoices and urges him to tell Mercy that night. It isn’t until Kit is walking home alone that she remembers Judith is planning on marrying John. Kit knows that Judith will be hurt at first, but Kit hopes that she’ll get over it soon. After all, John and Judith don’t really make a good match.
Kit realizes that she and the rest of the Wood family were wrong in their assumptions that John was courting Judith. John never showed any indication that he was interested in Judith—he was simply visiting the family. Kit is pleased to discover that she and the Wood family were wrong, as she thinks that John and Mercy are a good match. John’s temperament, interests, and values are more similar to Mercy’s than Judith’s.
Themes
That night, Judith takes so long to get ready that John arrives at the house before the family has left. When John announces his intention to stay with Mercy instead of going to the husking bee, Judith airily says that Mercy will be fine by herself. But John insists that he wants to stay behind to talk to Matthew alone.
Judith is pushy toward John and dismissive of her sister, telling John that Mercy won’t be sad to be alone during the husking bee, even though it is likely that Mercy would enjoy company (especially John’s, given that Mercy loves him). Judith’s callousness in this passage further characterizes her as a poor partner for John, who is quite tenderhearted and kind.
Themes
Ecstatic, Judith cries out to Matthew to “Say yes, now.” Smiling at Judith’s joy, Matthew gives John permission to marry Judith. Bewildered, John seems too shocked to speak. Kit watches in horror as Mercy approaches Judith and John and calmly expresses her happiness for them both.
Matthew and Judith misread John’s request to speak alone with Matthew—they both assume that John wants to marry Judith. Their assumptions cause a confusing moment that undoubtedly hurts both John and Mercy’s feelings, as each one thinks that the other doesn’t love them.
Themes
As Judith, John, Matthew, and Kit walk to the husking bee, Kit can’t stop thinking about how John is now stuck—if he “hurt[s] Judith now […] Mercy would never forgive either him or herself.” William interrupts her pondering to tell her he wants to talk to Matthew about their future. Panicked, Kit asks for more time. William patiently tells her that he will wait for her answer before walking on, “his hand remain[ing] on her elbow with a new possessiveness.”
John is stuck in his engagement with Judith because if he breaks up with her, he will break her heart, which will make Mercy feel guilty. Kit is sure that Mercy is so kindhearted and selfless that she would be more upset at John and herself for hurting Judith than she would be happy that the man she loves wants to marry her. Meanwhile, Kit’s panic about marriage is a strong indicator that she doesn’t love William or want to be with him. William tells her that he will wait for her answer, but he implies that he is certain that she will answer yes. He knows that Kit needs to marry in order to be independent from the Wood family; after all, she can’t work to support herself because women had so few opportunities to work. Furthermore, the way he possessively takes Kit’s arm as they walk implies that he sees her as his possession. His attitude is reflective of 17th-century New England society, as many people in this time and place believed that women were inferior to men and expected them to be subservient.
Themes
When they arrive at the barn, Kit is surprised at how fun the husking bee is—the people of Wethersfield aren’t so serious all the time. When Judith finds a red ear of corn, she joyfully tosses it to William, who approaches Kit to kiss her.
The husking bee stands as proof that, while the Puritans are generally solemn, they value fun and celebration as well. Just as each Puritan is different than the next (for example, Rachel is more charitable than Matthew), there is variety in the day-to-day life of the Puritans. The reader knows that Kit probably does not want to kiss William, but she doesn’t have a choice in this situation. Kit’s helplessness is reflective of the sexism in 17th-century New England, where women were treated like objects for men to claim.
Themes
