What are some lessons that The Witch of Blackbird Pond might teach?

The Witch of Blackbird Pond is a historical fiction novel told through the lens of prejudiced Colonial Puritan settlements in New England during the late 1600s. External conflict in the novel includes the origins of the Revolutionary War as colonists struggle against British rule. A lesson to be learned from this element of the novel is that people will struggle, fight and even die to gain or protect freedoms.

Another ongoing conflict in the story...

The Witch of Blackbird Pond is a historical fiction novel told through the lens of prejudiced Colonial Puritan settlements in New England during the late 1600s. External conflict in the novel includes the origins of the Revolutionary War as colonists struggle against British rule. A lesson to be learned from this element of the novel is that people will struggle, fight and even die to gain or protect freedoms.

Another ongoing conflict in the story provides additional lessons regarding human interactions and beliefs. The Puritan religious beliefs led to many accusations of witchcraft. In the novel, a group mentality of accusations involving witchcraft takes hold of a community. A lesson involving mass hysteria or peer pressure could be learned while analyzing the way the group turns on one of the characters, accusing her of witchcraft.

The main character also struggles with resolving an inner conflict between her identity and her duty to family, religion and community. Another lesson to learn from the novel is that of finding balance within one's self in performing duties as a member of a community or family while maintaining one's identity.