Johnny Tremain by Ester Forbes is a story about a young boy who lives in Boston at the start of The Revolution. Throughout the book, we read about how a simple apprentice boys life changes, as he gets involved in politics and the Sons of Liberty. The book shows how the events of that time brought families together, and pulled some apart. It describes how one person can greatly affect the places we live in. As the book goes on Johnny Terrains life changes in many ways. He goes from silversmith apprentice who is full of himself to a newspaper deliver who cares deeply about others and liberty. Many people affect Johnny throughout the book, in good and bad ways. Three of these people are Rab, James Otis, and Mr. Lyte.
Why do you go out of your way to make a bad feeling? (109) This quote is just one example of how what Rab says and what Rab does greatly affects Johnny. After meeting Rab for the first time, Johnny notices how nonchalantly he does things. When Johnny starts working for the Boston Observer, he watches how hard working and patient Rab was. These observations set out a new way of doing and a newfound determination for Johnny. After visiting Rab at the end of the book, Johnny finds courage, a courage he never knew he had before. Knowing that Rab died for what he believed gave Johnny strength. It gave him the strength to fight for what he believed was right, to strive for liberty.
James Otis played a very big role in changing the way that Johnny went about life. After seeing James Otis and noticing how out of this world he seems to be, Johnny doesnt really have a high respect or understanding of him. That all changes when Otis comes to the last Observer meeting. Some will give their lives.(119) We fight, we die, for a simple thing. Only that a man can stand up. (192) That night in bed Johnny really got to thinking about those words. He got to thinking about how Otis had turned directly to Rab when he said some would some will give their lives. Otis words, that a man can stand up, (192) would always be stuck in Johnnys mind. Otis speech scared Johnny in a way ; knowing that people would die for liberty scared Johnny. Otis words also gave Johnny hope; a hope of what one day the world would be.
Just as Rab and James Otis had an impact on Johnny, Mr. Lyte affected Johnnys life. His impact however, was not a positive impact, but a negative impact. Mr. Lyte accuses Johnny of theft, after going to him for kinship. Luckily, Johnny had someone to testify for him in court showing that he had the cup before the date Mr. Lytes cup was stolen. A few days after Johnny goes back to Mr. Lyte to see if hell buy his cup, but instead of buying it, Mr. Lyte steals it. Ive never yet bought stolen goods. Im not going to start now-not even with my own. (95) This act showed Johnny how self centered Mr. Lyte was. Mr. Lyte changed Johnnys attitude toward physical things. Johnny never took things for granted as he had in the past.
A number of people affected Johnny Tremain, in a large variety of ways. Some were good, some were bad, and some were in-between. Ester Forbes gas a great way of describing how people can change your life forever. She also explains the effect of the start of the revolution on individuals as well as families. She gives examples of the effects on British and American soldiers. Johnny Tremain is a great example of a just cant lay it down book. You can enjoy it and learn from it too.
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