A Lion to Guard Us

The passengers’ fears of Bermudan “devils” reflect the theme of The Imagined and Real “New World.” Some of the adults coming ashore are fearful of hostile Indigenous peoples, whom they have stereotyped and called “devils.” The unnamed women blame these “devils” for the shipwreck and fear they will not allow them to land. The imagined “devils” personify the English women’s fear of the unknown and concerns over forces outside of their control; they also characterize common European views about Indigenous people during this era and nod to the violence of colonialism, though the book does not explore this topic deeply. Although the passengers are seeking a “New World” that allows them more social possibilities, they are also fearful of a “savage” land where people act in ways they don’t understand. The sailor realizes that the myth of hostile Indigenous people in Bermuda has a political purpose, allowing the Spanish to keep the English away.

The children demonstrate the theme of Resilience and Youth after the shipwreck. Amanda almost immediately begins helping her community. Even though she is still in shock from the shipwreck and has trouble adjusting to land, she uses her skills as a kitchen servant to aid the community by skinning fish. The children’s clothing is still wet and has shrunk, but they keep their composure even though they are still shaken from the wreck. Additionally, the theme of the Journey From Childhood to Independence can be seen in Amanda’s request for the Freebold children to have their own home on the island. Initially, the governor believes the children cannot be on their own and plans for them to live with the Hopkins family. Mistress Hopkins makes it clear she is not interested in having them in her home, and the children do not want to go back to living in a home where they are unwelcome, as they did in Mistress Trippett’s home. Amanda’s determination to find a different solution and build a home shows growth from the start of the novel when she could not envision a way out of their situation in London. While the children cannot complete the work on their own, the community helps them build a small home where they can be independent.

The new community dynamics also reinforce the differences between the imagined and real “New World.” On the one hand, the children receive more help than ever before: the adults on the island ensure that they are fed and sheltered, a sharp difference from Mistress Trippett. However, class dynamics still emerge in the group. Although everyone is struggling after surviving the shipwreck, only the upper-class passengers are allowed to warm themselves by a fire on the first night. They have not yet reached Virginia, but Bermuda is squarely in the “New World” and should be outside the social order in England. Nonetheless, certain inequalities remain, foreshadowing how Jamestown will not be everything the children hoped it would be.