Nightly Rendezvous At The Cemetery: Chapter Analysis

Chapter II the Nightly Rendezvous at the Cemetery is an important scene in the novel because it’s the first time Catherine Sedgwick establishes a common ground between the Indians and the Puritans. In the novel, Hope is introduced to readers as a free- spirited, unconventional, and nonconformist character. The traits that Hope possesses in her character sets her apart from other Puritans. Although it may appear that Hope is different, her distraught reaction after hearing that her sister was married to an Indian man proves otherwise. Hope views her sister’s marriage “as if a knife had been plunged in her bosom” (188) this comparison allows readers to understand the pain and disappointment Hope felt towards the news. Sedgwick is also showing
through Hope’s reaction that Hope is not perfect and she still values her Puritan beliefs because they are a part of who she is no matter how different Hope may seem. I believe that Hope’s hysterical reaction was a response to her sister’s marriage with a nonbeliever that was why she wept and asked God to “restore her sister to the Christain family” (189). As a result of Hope’s weeping, Magawisca sympathizes with her which is an example of sentimental mode. Sedgwick uses Magawisca’s sympathy to create a connection between the two characters.
Throughout the novel there is a reoccur theme of Indian vs. Puritans, but after this scene readers see the similarities between the Indians and the Puritans. For example, Hope believes that her mother’s death has been in vain now that her sister has turned away from Christ, but Magawisca points out that in the same ground rests her mother therefore they both share a similarity. This is also the first time Sedgwick uses the maternal character as a significant figure to help develop the connection between Hope and Magawisca. In the passage, Magawisca makes the statement “think ye not that the Great Spirit looks down on these sacred spots, where the good and the peaceful rest, with equal eye” (189). This quote is showing that even though the Indians may have different beliefs from the Puritans under God each race is considered equal. In addition, the quote shows the irony between the different races because for so long the Puritans believed their race superior to the Indians, but once a Puritan dies there is no special place for them to be buried. In the end both races would be buried in the same ground side by side like Hope and Magawisca’s
mothers. Another important part of this scene was when Magawisca tells Hope that her sister bows to the crucifix. Even though Hope’s sister may not be considered a Puritan she was still part of a Christian family and therefore accepted as God’s child. Sedgwick wants to show her readers that Magawisca and Hope are a reflection of one another because they both appealed to their spirituality. It didn’t matter where the individual worshipped God whether in a temple or in the forest they were the same. Finally, at the end of the scene the connection formed between Magawisca and Hope also strengthens their trust for each other.