Rebellion 1776

As the protagonist and first-person narrator of the novel, Elsbeth Culpepper is a dynamic and round character whose personal struggles for survival and autonomy mirror the larger political upheaval of the American Revolution. Orphaned by smallpox and separated from her father, Elsbeth’s primary motivation is to endure the hardships of a war-torn Boston while awaiting his return. Her resilience is a defining trait, often symbolized by the motif of sewing, a skill inherited from her mother. This craft represents her ambition to become a “she-merchant” and her ability to piece together a new life from fragments, “one stitch at a time” (51). Her journey is central to the theme of The Formation of Found Families in Times of Crisis, as she forges strong, sibling-like bonds with Shubel Kent, Nyott Doubt, and Hannah Sparhawk, and eventually finds a place within the Pike household.

Elsbeth’s character is also defined by her resourceful use of deception. She consistently lies about her age, her father’s whereabouts, and her own intentions, a necessary strategy for a young woman in a dangerous world. When she tells Mister Pike that her father is on a whaling ship, the lie helps secure her position as a housekeeper, which means food, shelter, and safety.