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Chapter 8
Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in Johnny Tremain, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Coming of Age
Pride vs. Humility
Patriotism and the Revolutionary War
Violence
Moral Integrity and Class
Summary
Analysis
1. That fall, Paul Revere organizes a spy system of 30 artisans, their apprentices, and their friends. Unlike when the Observers met in the Observer’s office, it raises no suspicions when 30 craftsmen meet in the Green Dragon inn, especially since it’s a Masonic inn and most of the men are Masons. Any intel is reported directly to Sam Adams, John Hancock, Dr. Warren, or Dr. Church. Johnny has his own assignment: to spy on Colonel Smith and the other officers at the Afric Queen. Nobody suspects him since Goblin is still stabled there, and Paul Revere warns Johnny to remain close with Dove. Even Lydia helps. One day, as Johnny helps her hang laundry, she describes how Lieutenant Stranger was sent on a “little business” last night. He spent all night writing letters to Miss Lavinia; Lydia has his torn-up attempts.
Artisans and craftsmen might be of a lower class than the wealthier men who were part of the Observers (such as John Hancock), but this passage shows that they nevertheless have a lot of power. Nobody suspects that they’re actually all spying on the British. This is, perhaps, a sign that Revere is trying to weaponize the British perception of colonists as uneducated “yokels and farmers” who pose no threat. Johnny finds even more purpose in his new role, especially when Lydia helps him uncover Lieutenant Stranger’s movements.
Themes
Johnny takes the torn-up letters back to the printing office, and he, Rab, and Mr. Lorne put them together. The letters are all about a dance on December 15 that he can’t attend because he’ll be 60 miles north. There’s a fort there; they’re planning to take more supplies. Johnny rushes to Paul Revere and within 10 minutes, Mr. Revere is galloping north, ostensibly to visit his dying grandmother. Before the British even leave Boston, word arrives that the Americans seized a British fort and stole stores.
Thanks to Lydia and Johnny, the Patriots score a major victory and prove that Mr. Revere’s spy system can (and does) work. This no doubt makes Johnny feel even better about himself and his involvement with the spy network; he’s doing work he believes in and is genuinely making a difference.
Themes
2. It’s always been Johnny’s fault that he didn’t make friends with Dove. But Johnny finds that Dove is lonely, and it bothers him when the British tease and abuse him. So, Johnny cultivates Dove’s friendship. Dove begins sneaking to the Observer’s office multiple times per day, where Johnny and Rab share their food and let Dove talk. Dove boasts about warning the British officers not to employ Johnny as a rider. He reveals that he knew about Lieutenant Stranger’s plan to ride north—Rab and Johnny didn’t know Dove knew. When he insinuates that he has more information, Johnny runs to the Afric Queen for a bottle of brandy so they can loosen Dove’s tongue.
That Johnny finally begins making overtures to Dove shows that Johnny is maturing. Now, he knows it’s up to him to make sure that nobody bullies Dove. He also sees that the best way to protect Dove is to befriend him. Of course, Johnny has ulterior motives here—he wants information for Mr. Revere. But Johnny also seems to have developed a conscience, since he feels bad for Dove and wants to protect him from harm.
Themes
Happily drinking, Dove says that in the spring, the British will march and fight. Gage has been told to confiscate rebel stores, and he knows where the stores are. He’s targeting Worcester and Concord, but Dove’s next big reveal is a wildly inaccurate count of British soldiers in Boston. Suddenly crying, Dove says Rab and Johnny are his best friends, and he’s going to bury himself until the war is over. Rab insists that Dove stay until he’s feeling better, but it soon comes out that Dove is supposed to have the Colonel’s horse Nan ready by 4:30—and it’s already four.
Given how drunk and emotional Dove is, it’s unclear how seriously to take him. However, Johnny and Rab seem to write Dove off after the count of British soldiers turns out to be so wrong; this suggests to them that Dove has no idea what he’s talking about. What is clear, though, is that Dove is struggling and desperately wants friendship and community. He’s not finding it with the British, despite being a genuine Tory.
Themes
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Johnny runs to do Dove’s job himself so Dove doesn’t get fired. Colonel Smith has two horses: Sandy, his old reliable war charger; and Nan, a mare with smooth gaits who’s better for hacking around Boston. When he leads Nan into the yard, Lieutenant Stranger lights up. Colonel Smith is ill, so if Johnny gets Goblin, Stranger will teach Johnny to jump. This only increases Johnny’s love and respect for Stranger. On horses, they’re equals—so it’s confusing for Johnny that elsewhere, he’s a strict British officer who looks down on Johnny.
Johnny doesn’t want Colonel Smith to fire Dove, because it would cut off Johnny’s access to Colonel Smith’s whereabouts. But his political move to go tack up Nan for Dove turns almost instantly into a social outing, where Johnny gets to further strengthen his relationship with Stranger. Still, Johnny struggles to code-switch (change his behavior depending on the context) around Stranger, which highlights his youth and innocence.
Themes
3. One Thursday, as Johnny tries to deliver his papers, Goblin is being especially frisky. Johnny takes him to the Common planning to work out his kinks, but an officer shouts about sending Johnny away—the British are getting edgy. Several soldiers attack Johnny and Goblin and the sergeant, upon seeing Johnny’s dropped seditious newspapers, says Johnny will get 30 lashes. But Johnny notices that Pumpkin is holding Goblin’s bridle, and Pumpkin mouths, “spurs.” Johnny kicks Goblin, who gallops off, dragging a British soldier. Johnny has to cut the bridle to get rid of the soldier, so he clings to Goblin’s neck as the horse weaves through Boston and turns in at the Lytes’, expecting a carrot.
Pumpkin, despite being a British soldier who presumably believes in the British cause, shows here that he doesn’t want to see a kid like Johnny hurt. He doesn’t want to (or have the power to) stand up for Johnny overtly, but he can encourage Johnny to act out on his own. Johnny’s ride sounds terrifying, but he also seems to trust his horse to get him safely away from the British. This speaks to the strong bond Johnny has formed with Goblin over the last year—something the novel attributes to Johnny becoming more compassionate.
Themes
Pumpkin is in the yard, grooming a horse. He tells Johnny that the papers will still get to an eager readership: lots of British soldiers are Whigs, and that’s why there’ve been so many deserters. Still, though, they’ll “fight like hell” when the time comes. Johnny asks a few questions and ascertains that Pumpkin would happily desert—he dreams of being a farmer and having cows. The colonies offer opportunities for poor men like him, unlike in England. Johnny offers to get him a disguise and smuggle him out of Boston in exchange for his musket. Pumpkin agrees. That evening, Johnny pulls out the smocks his mother made him. She had no idea that silversmiths don’t wear smocks—she was so naïve, but she fought for Johnny. Johnny feels “humble and ashamed.”
Pumpkin suggests that the British soldiers will do as they’re told, but that many soldiers’ hearts aren’t really in the fight. Indeed, many, like Pumpkin, would rather stay in the colonies and build their lives there. Recall James Otis saying that a war would benefit even poor Englishmen: that’s what Pumpkin echoes here, as he insists that the colonies offer opportunities that England doesn’t. As Johnny examines his mother’s smocks, he takes another step forward in his maturity. He now can appreciate his mother for what she tried to do for him, even though he knows she was misguided.
Themes
Though Pumpkin never meets Rab’s uncle to ride out of Boston, it soon seems like he disappeared, and Johnny stops worrying about him. Rab’s eyes glow as he takes Pumpkin’s musket, and he and Johnny begin secretly casting bullets at night. Like all other Whigs in Boston, they’re melting pewter from family members—Aunt Jenifer gives hers to Rab. People make gunpowder secretly, and each Minute Man rolls powder and bullets into paper cylinders to fit his own gun. Rab wraps his in discarded invitations and love notes that Cilla steals from Miss Lavinia.
Finally, Rab gets his musket—a sign that he’s come of age and is now a soldier and a man. That Rab rolls his bullets in Miss Lavinia’s love notes is bittersweet, but it also speaks to how resourceful the Minute Men are (as well as how few supplies they have available to them). Cilla furnishing the love notes strengthens her relationship to Johnny, and it also shows that she too is fighting for what she believes in.
Themes
4. It’s now April, and everyone knows that General Gage will soon strike. He knows the “provincials” have been preparing, and King George is furious about how cautious Gage has been. Minute Men are drilling everywhere, despite the British order to disband. Johnny continues to watch Colonel Smith and listen to Dove, and despite his fears, he continues to ride at the Common. He exercises Sandy and Nan for Smith and is shocked that most horses are quiet and tame.
Tensions are ramping up in Boston—and the Minute Men are getting bolder if they’re disobeying orders to continue drilling. Still, though, the British continue to think of the colonists as being uneducated, unthinking, and unprepared, hence calling them “provincials.” Even as the Minute Men look more dedicated and threatening, the British refuse to acknowledge that they might actually be a threat.
Themes
5. Johnny is riding Sandy and leading Nan around the British camp, doing Dove’s work for him. Earl Percy is parading his brigade on the Common, which is normal. Skirting the soldiers, Johnny heads for the river, where the horses can nibble some sweet grass. Then, he hears the drums rolling somberly. Regiment after regiment marches onto the Common, trapping Johnny. Finally, Johnny realizes what some soldiers are doing by the river: there’s a chaplain, a coffin, a grave, and a firing squad. They’re going to execute a deserter: Pumpkin. Johnny doesn’t watch, but he cries and shakes. Pumpkin just wanted to be a farmer, and now he’s dead. As the firing squad passes Johnny, Johnny thinks the ends of their muskets look like eyes. He doesn’t see how he or anyone else could willingly face those eyes.
Johnny’s innocence and youth shine through in this chapter. Nothing raises any concern for him until he’s trapped and has no choice but to look away as the soldiers shoot Pumpkin. But this incident does make the war real for Johnny in a way that nothing else has. Pumpkin wanted a simple life; he just wanted to farm and raise cows. And for wanting that and trying to achieve it, he's now dead. To Johnny, this makes the British look wildly inhumane and cruel—and unstoppable. Referring to the end of the firing squad’s muskets as eyes also draws a connection to the Lyte family crest, which symbolizes another group whom Johnny thinks of as invincible. However, whether the British and the Lytes really are invincible is yet to be seen.
Themes
