Rebellion 1776

The recurring act of sewing and stitching functions as a motif that represents repair, resilience, and the piecing together of a new life from fragments of loss. It is Elsbeth’s primary connection to her deceased mother, who taught her the craft, and the foundation of her ambition for an independent future. In a world torn apart by war and disease, sewing is a deliberate, constructive act of creation. After experiencing the devastating loss of her family, Elsbeth’s return to her needlework symbolizes the beginning of her healing process. As she mends old shirts in the smallpox-ridden boardinghouse, she recalls her mother’s advice to work “one stitch at a time” (51). This phrase becomes Elsbeth’s philosophy for survival, illustrating how small, steady actions are required to endure hardship and rebuild a meaningful life. The motif suggests that recovery, like sewing, is a slow and methodical process of joining broken pieces to make something whole and new.

This motif extends to Elsbeth’s father, a sailmaker whose tools are a tangible link to his identity. Billy Rawdon’s theft of Pappa’s leather palm and needle case is a violation of this identity, turning instruments of creation into tools for blackmail. Conversely, Elsbeth uses her sewing skills to forge new bonds and demonstrate care, connecting to