On The Initiation Motif In The Witch Of Blackbird Pond

Elizabeth George Speare(1908—1994) is a prominent American writer of children’s books. Her works are always based on her careful research on historical events; they are characterized by her consummate skill in the authentic setting and details of the story, the intriguing characterization as well as the compelling narrative. The Witch of Blackbird Pond is Speare’s first Newbery-Award winning book and has been regarded as a historical book ever since its publication. Actually, the story centers on the growing experiences of the protagonist and can be considered an initiation story, which manifests itself from the arrangement of plot pattern, the characterization of initiation guides and the display of the female protagonist’s cognitive development.By exploring how the arrangement of plot pattern, the characterization of initiation guides and the display of the protagonist’s cognitive development visualize the story’s initiation motif and how the deficiency of community love, the power of family love, the nurture of heterosexual love and the support of sisterhood influence the female protagonist’s growth, the author of the thesis maintains that The Witch of Blackbird Pond presents females’ growing and living plight in colonial America — compared with males, the then females did not have discretionary power in marriage and had poor access to education. The novel also implies Speare’s view that females should not be objectified and should pursue their spiritual love while maintaining their independent selves in marriage. Speare lays emphasis on the significance of sisterhood to females’ growth, and advocates sisterhood among women. Furthermore, Speare appeals to community and family to help youths’ growth with love, and simultaneously, she encourages youths to overcome adversities fearlessly.