The Hidden Hand

Each novel we have read so far has challenged and agreed with the various theories for analyzing children’s literature and children within literature. Drawing on both MacLeod’s “Children’s Literature for a New Nation” and Sanchez-Eppler’s introduction to Independent states we are able to create ideas for how we expect these novels to play out and what their purpose is for. Progressively the novels have strayed farther away from our basic ideas of children’s literature and left us with my second favorite story, The Hidden Hand. I still cannot give up my love for kick butt Gerty but Capitola seems pretty awesome and I already love the story line Southworth has created in her novel. In The Hidden Hand the ideas of strangers and good prevailing over evil is very obvious.

As we have all seen the idea of helpful strangers has been presented to us in the two previous novels and now this one. I loved the question we were asked in class by a lead respondent because I had to really think about why Southworth introduced our stranger, Old Hurricane, before our heroine, Capitola. After thinking about this question I think it was imperative that Capitola’s past and Old Hurricane’s description was put before the introduction of our main character. “In person, Major Warfiel was tall and strongly built, reminding one of some iron-limbed Douglas of the olden time. His features were large and harsh; his complexion dark red, as that of one bronzed by long exposure and flushed with strong drink. His fierce, dark-gray eyes were surmounted by thick, heavy black brows that, when gathered into a frown, reminded one of a thunder cloud, as the flashing orbs beneath them did of lightning” (151). This description of Capitola’s stranger and hero is absolutely wonderful. The diction used allows you to picture this man in your head and lead to an understanding of why he has the nickname of Old Hurricane. Major Warfield, Old Hurricane, is a helpful stranger on a mission for a reason we are unaware of to save this girl, which he does. Even though the layout of this novel is different it is still evident that with the help of strangers our main character will have a better life.

This also leads into the idea of good prevailing over evil. “There came a day when my meal, even the last dust of it, was gone. Then I kept life in me by drinking water and by sleeping all I could. I slept deeply, from exhaustion, and then I’d dream of feasts and the richest sorts of food, and of eating such quantities; and really, sir, I seemed to taste it and enjoy it and get the good of it, almost as much as if it was all true!” (177). Capitola has been through some obvious and major struggles in her life such as starvation, loosing shelter, worrying of evil men in the streets, finding work, and more. These various struggles led her to dressing as a boy so that she could find work and be able to live. “And from that day forth I was happy and prosperous! I found plenty to do! I carried carpet-bags, held horses, put in coal, cleaned sidewalks, blacked gentlemen’s boots and did everything an honest lad could turn his hands to” (179). Even though there was all of this terror in her life she has been saved by Major Warfield and is taken to the country where she has her own furnished room, new clothes, fresh food to eat, a new pony, and every thing that a young girl could desire to make her into a lady. The idea of good prevailing over evil is a theme that consistently shows up in children’s literature to show children that even though there are hardships, good will prevail.