Midnight Rider

Content Warning: This section of the guide includes discussion of death.

Hannah serves as the dynamic protagonist whose transformation from powerless orphan into empowered patriot illustrates the novel’s central themes. A 14-year-old girl marked by physical scars from smallpox and emotional wounds from her parents’ deaths and her aunt’s decision to make her an indentured servant, Hannah undergoes a journey that illustrates the idea of Personal Bondage as a Mirror for Political Oppression. Her seven-year indenture contract parallels America’s increasingly restrictive relationship with Britain, and her personal struggle for freedom becomes a microcosm of the colonial experience.

Hannah’s defining traits include her exceptional horsemanship, talent for mimicry, and fierce loyalty to those she loves. Her ability to calm and ride horses (particularly her beloved Promise and the dangerous Gabriel) demonstrates her capacity to form deep emotional bonds. Her gentle approach to the wild stallion, Gabriel, contrasts sharply with the general’s use of force, illustrating her understanding that trust, not dominance, creates lasting relationships. In this way, her approach to horsemanship also reflects her philosophical beliefs and political stance.

Hannah’s talent for mimicry serves multiple functions in the