Appearance vs. Reality in Sedgwick's Hope Leslie

In her novel, Hope Leslie, Catharine Maria Sedgwick supplants the importance of strict adherence to religious tenets with the significance the human conscience and following one's own heart. This central theme of the novel is intimated to the reader in the scene where Sir Philip Gardiner, a character that completely defies this ideal, is described. Although he "had a certain erect and gallant bearing that marks a man of the world . . . his dress was strictly puritanical" (124). In other words, even though his demeanor is completely unlike that of a puritan, he adheres to the outward seeming of one. The scene describes in detail these markings and intimations of his person that would indicate an attitude not befitting a puritan. His face suggested the "ravages of the passions" while his constantly roving eyes indicated a "restless mind" (124). The only signs of Sir Philip's "puritanism" are his pretenses and his clothing, and these are enough to convince society he is a religious man, quite a "dandy quaker" (125).

Sir Philip is hailed as "a godly and approved member of the congregation" (152). He is considered such an exemplar of the puritanical faith that he is deemed a more appropriate match for Hope than Everell. While Sir Philip maintains the outward appearances of a puritan, Everell, while his "puritan principles [remain] uncorrupted . . . has little of the outward man of a 'pilgrim indeed'" (150). When Mr. Fletcher asks Winthrop about the validity of Sir Philip's supposed credentials, Winthrop replies "that he thought the gentleman scarcely needed other than he carried in his language and deportment" (155). While Sir Philip's principles are untested and Everell clearly rests on puritanical principles, Sir Philip remains the preferred choice for Hope because he has all of the seeming of a puritan.

Sir Philip, they later discover, is not a puritan at all. If his society would have only looked past his pretenses, they would have discovered this much sooner. Hope jests during dinner at the Winthrop's, "you will not dine on fish alone, and on Friday too-why we shall suspect you of being a Romanist" (148). Sir Philip's avoidance of meat hints at his Catholic indoctrination, but this is ignored merely because of his puritanical pretenses. Jokingly, Mrs. Grafton says to Hope that "if she must see her wedded to a puritan, she trusted it would be Sir Philip, for he had nothing of the puritan but the outside" and this is quite the case (167). It is obvious that Sir Philip is not what he seems, but his society seems all too eager to give credence to appearances alone.

Sir Philip appears to be completely devoid not only of puritanical principles, but also Christian principles. When his ploy to free Magawisca in order to be liberated from Rosa is devastated, getting attacked by the prisoner, Morton, and then being rescued by Magawisca and the jailer, Barnaby Tuttle, Sir Philip becomes painfully aware of his falsity. He realizes, by comparing himself to Barnaby, that "genuine goodness … rings true at every trial; while hypocrisy, though it show a face fair and bright, yet, like a new false coin, betrays at every scratch the base metal" (261). While the goodness of people such as Barnaby, Magawisca, and Hope will remain unfailing upon every examination, Sir Philip's falsehood will likewise remain easily revealed.

Due to this society's obsession with adherence to strict religious rules, the treacherous Sir Philip Gardiner is approved while Hope Leslie is condemned for her actions. Winthrop criticizes her for being "wanting in grace", and further reproaches her for not possessing the 'virtue' of "passiveness, that, next to godliness, is a woman's best virtue" (151; 153). Esther chastises her, saying "you do allow yourself too much liberty of thought and word: you certainly know that we owe implicit deference to our elders and superiors;--we ought to be guided by their advice, and governed by their authority" (180). Even Everell doubts her when she refuses to give account of her absence.

While society condemns Hope Leslie at first, she proves the most Christian of them all and gains their reluctant approval. Unlike the other Puritans, Hope is able to follow her conscience and trust in her heart. When Nelema is imprisoned for her unorthodox method of healing of Cradock on Hope's behalf, Hope extricates Nelema from the authorities. After Magawisca is taken captive due to a promised rendezvous between Faith and Hope, Hope finds a way to rescue Magawisca from prison. Although Hope loves her sister and wishes to keep her home, she respects the sanctity of Faith's Christian bond with Oneco, albeit Catholic, and is happy for Faith when Oneco rescues her. Hope transcends the Puritan religion and embraces a universal religion, respecting others' differing relationships with God as holy. Hope, unlike her society, rejects strict adherence to religious tenets and follows her own heart.

Works Cited

Sedgwick, Catharine Maria. Hope Leslie. New Brunswick, NJ: Rutgers U P, 1995.