Johnny Tremain

by

Esther Forbes

Mrs. Bessie Character Analysis

Mrs. Bessie works in the kitchen at the Lytes’ house. She and Cilla are the only Whig servants. Aside from her divergent political leanings, Mrs. Bessie isn’t particularly loyal to the Lytes—she finds Miss Lavinia in particular to be cruel and attention-seeking. However, she nevertheless doesn’t want anything bad to happen to the Lytes, which is why she helps the family flee their country estate before a Whig mob can tar and feather Mr. Lyte. Mrs. Bessie often helps Johnny, supplying him with citrus for the Boston Observers and dispensing sage advice.

Mrs. Bessie Quotes in Johnny Tremain

The Johnny Tremain quotes below are all either spoken by Mrs. Bessie or refer to Mrs. Bessie. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
Coming of Age Theme Icon
).
Chapter 8 Quotes

Johnny liked the old woman all the better that in the end she had been unable to see a considerate master, whom she had served for thirty years, a young woman whom she had taken care of since she was a baby, humiliated, tossed about, torn by a mob. Sam Adams might respect her the less for this weakness. Johnny respected her more.

Related Characters: Johnny Tremain, Cilla Lapham, Miss Lavinia Lyte, Merchant Lyte, Mrs. Bessie, Samuel Adams
Page Number: 188
Explanation and Analysis:
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Mrs. Bessie Quotes in Johnny Tremain

The Johnny Tremain quotes below are all either spoken by Mrs. Bessie or refer to Mrs. Bessie. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
Coming of Age Theme Icon
).
Chapter 8 Quotes

Johnny liked the old woman all the better that in the end she had been unable to see a considerate master, whom she had served for thirty years, a young woman whom she had taken care of since she was a baby, humiliated, tossed about, torn by a mob. Sam Adams might respect her the less for this weakness. Johnny respected her more.

Related Characters: Johnny Tremain, Cilla Lapham, Miss Lavinia Lyte, Merchant Lyte, Mrs. Bessie, Samuel Adams
Page Number: 188
Explanation and Analysis: