The Witch Of Blackbird Pond

Nat Eaton is first mate on the Dolphin. He is the son of the captain and seems well suited to life as a sailor. He is 19 when he makes the acquaintance of Kit on her passage to New England. Tall and blond, he instantly attracts her interest and seems interested in her as well. Nat is amused and sometimes irritated by Kit’s impulsive attitude on shipboard. As she changes and matures, his behavior softens, especially when he discovers that Kit is supportive of his old friend Hannah.

Because Nat has traveled as a merchant sailor, he has seen more of the world and is not as narrowminded as the Puritan citizens of Wethersfield. For that reason, he is ready to accept Kit’s free-spirited behavior. He even risks his freedom to defend her against the charge of witchcraft. By the end of the story, Nat has set himself up as a ship captain in hopes of winning Kit’s hand. Their marriage offers Kit the ideal solution to her problem of being caught between two worlds. 

Hannah is an elderly Quaker widow who lives in a ramshackle cottage on the outskirts of Wethersfield. She and her husband were persecuted for their beliefs years earlier by being branded on the forehead and driven out of Massachusetts. Unlike the Puritans surrounding her, Hannah isn’t concerned about following strict religious doctrine. As a Quaker, she believes that divine revelation can be found within a person’s heart, and she teaches this principle to Kit as well.

Over the course of the story, Hannah’s home serves as a refuge for Kit, Nat, and Prudence until the townsfolk accuse her of witchcraft. After her hut is burned, Hannah is rescued by Kit and Nat and lives happily in the Saybrook home of Nat’s grandmother. 

Matthew is Kit’s strict Puritan uncle. He appears cold and unwelcoming to his niece at first but grudgingly allows her to live under his roof. Initially, he is exasperated by Kit’s colorful clothing and considers her a disruptive influence. However, as Kit adjusts to life in New England, Matthew comes to appreciate her. This is especially true when she nurses the Wood family through a serious illness. Although Matthew is opinionated and rigid in his beliefs, he cares about protecting his loved ones and the life he has made for them in America. 

Rachel is the sister of Kit’s deceased mother. As a young girl, she was considered a great beauty, but years of toil in the colonies have faded her looks. Rachel is also timid and submissive toward her husband. Although she follows his rules, she is kind and caring to both her daughters and Kit. She helps Kit adjust to her new life by teaching her how to manage household chores in colonial New England. Although upset when her niece is charged with witchcraft, Rachel summons the courage to visit Kit in jail when no one else will. By the end of the novel, she is glad to see both her daughters and niece happily married. 

Mercy is the older daughter of Matthew and Rachel. While she is described as lovely, a childhood illness affected her ability to walk. She must rely on crutches and rarely leaves the house. Despite her limited mobility, Mercy keeps a hopeful attitude and does all she can to help others. She patiently teaches Kit the skills that the newcomer must master. Mercy falls in love with John Holbrook but keeps silent because her sister Judith has claimed him. Fortunately, John returns Mercy’s affection and proposes to her by the end of the novel. 

Judith is Mercy’s younger sister. Although just as pretty as Mercy, she presents a strong contrast to her elder sibling. While Mercy is shy and good-natured, Judith is demanding and waspish. She cares for her family in her own way but rarely considers other people’s feelings. After Kit rejects William’s proposal, Judith is quick to seize the opportunity to marry a wealthy man. She is just as materialistic and conventional as William is, so the two make a good match. 

William is Kit’s suitor throughout much of the story. He is described as handsome in a bulky sort of way. Because William is the son of a wealthy landowner, he automatically assumes that Kit will want to marry him whenever he chooses to propose. Most of his limited conversation revolves around plans for the grand house he is building for his future bride. William values social approval and wants Kit to behave like a proper lady. This conflict eventually ends their courtship. William then turns to Judith, who will meet his expectations and support his standing in the community. 

John is a soft-spoken divinity student whom Kit meets on her journey to Wethersfield. They become friends even though John is frequently shocked by Kit’s unconventional behavior. Initially, he is also overawed by the opinionated older men surrounding him and tries to agree with everybody. Eventually, John learns to follow his own convictions when it comes to politics and his choice of a bride. 

Prudence is the pale, skinny little daughter of the Cruffs. Her mother is an overbearing shrew, and her father is henpecked. The child develops an attachment to Kit when the older girl teaches her to read and write. Prudence also becomes a frequent visitor at Hannah’s cottage. The combined influence of Kit and Hannah helps Prudence overcome her fearfulness. In the end, she saves Kit from a charge of witchcraft by reading aloud at her hearing.