Johnny Tremain Characters

Introduction

In the historical fiction book Johnny Tremain, Esther Forbes mainly uses fictional characters such as Johnny Tremain, Rab Silsbee, and Cilla Lapham to portray the narrative and themes to the reader. But just like she weaves real historical events into the story, Esther Forbes also includes characters based on real historical figures such as James Otis.

Johnny Tremain

Johnny Tremain is a 14 year old boy who works as a silversmith apprentice in Boston. As the owner largely neglects the silversmith shop, Johnny is left in charge and has authority over the two other apprentices. Mrs. Lapham, the widowed daughter-in-law of the owner, wants Johnny to marry her daughter, Cilla Lapham. Johnny is also related to a wealthy Boston merchant named Jonathan Lyte, although this has been kept a secret.

One day an accident at the silversmith shop leaves Johnny's hand deformed and him no longer able to work as a silversmith. He eventually finds a new occupation delivering the Boston Observer, a Whig newspaper. Johnny then soon becomes friends with Rab Silsbee, a boy who works at the Boston Observer. He also meets key members of Boston politics and becomes an enthusiastic Whig supporter, leading him to get involved with the revolution.

Just before the beginning of the American Revolutionary War, the wealthy Lyte family admits that Johnny has the right to some of their property due to his kinship. Then soon after the war begins, a doctor examines Johnny's hand and sees that it can be fixed through simple surgery, thus enabling him to hold a musket and fight in the war.

Throughout the story, Johnny's character undergoes changes both to his way of life and to his personality. At the start of the book he is a small-minded and proud boy who lives with the Laphams as an apprentice silversmith. After his accident where he burns his hand, he starts to become more humbled as he moves out into the open world and must learn to overcome his difficulties.

By being around people like Rab Silsbee, Paul Revere, and Sam Adams, Johnny's view of life is widened and he starts to see the bigger picture of Boston and the revolt. He takes on responsibilities and becomes very much involved with the revolution. By the end of the story Johnny has become a much more humble and responsible young man with a larger view of life.

At the end of Johnny Tremain, Johnny's burnt hand is about to be operated on by Doctor Warren. But before Johnny's hand is fixed the book ends, leaving the reader in suspense. The following is an account of what might have happened: Johnny's hand is operated on and his thumb is freed. Since he can now hold a gun, he becomes a soldier in the war and fights with the Minutemen and becomes a hero. Once the war is over, Johnny finds that his hand is just as good with silverwork as before the burn and he begins a silversmith business. He is soon recognized as one of the best silversmiths in Boston and becomes a wealthy man.

Another loose end when the story finishes is related to what Johnny will receive of the Lyte family's property. When the Lytes fled to the refuge of England, they were forced to leave their property and mansion behind in Boston. Just before they left, Lavinia Lyte told Johnny that they were indeed related and that he was entitled to ownership of the property. After the war, Johnny most likely comes back and puts in a claim for the property and mansion. He is likely then awarded ownership of the property and lives in the mansion with Cilla and Mrs. Bessie, the Lyte's former servant.

Rab Silsbee

Rab Silsbee is a tall, dark boy who becomes friends with Johnny. Because his parents are dead, Rab works for his Uncle Lorne, a Whig, at the Boston Observer, a local newspaper. He is also a member of the Sons of Liberty and very much involved with the revolution.

When Johnny first meets Rab he gets the impression that Rab is very calm and collected because of the way Rab talks to the lady who lost her pig and how he invites Johnny in to share lunch. Johnny finds an ease and confidence in Rab that he had not come across in anyone before. Rab is a friendly person and has a strong, reliable character that Johnny immediately feels comfortable with and admires. Rab becomes a friend to Johnny and helps him and guides him throughout the story, such as the time when he saves Johnny from a hanging after being accused by the merchant Jonathan Lyte.

Rab's character seems faultless and he is symbolic of the good in humanity. It is for this reason that he is martyred at the end of the book, to show how much was given to the American Revolution and how some died so that others could stand up. Through Rab's death Esther Forbes demonstrates the cost of revolution and the price of freedom.

Cilla Lapham

Cilla Lapham is the granddaughter of Ephraim Lapham, who owns the silversmith shop which Johnny Tremain works at. Throughout the story, Johnny and Cilla are good friends. Early on, Mrs. Lapham intends to arrange for the two to marry. However, after Johnny injures his hand and can no longer work as a silversmith, Mrs. Lapham forbids him from marrying Cilla.

Later in the book, when the wealthy merchant Jonanthan Lyte accuses Johnny of stealing a silver cup and has him arrested, Cilla helps to clear him of the charges in court. As time goes on, Johnny comes to realize more and more the feelings he has for Cilla.

At the end of Johnny Tremain it is not revealed what will happen between Johnny and Cilla, as the story ends abruptly. A probable ending is that after the war, Johnny comes back and sees Cilla in Boston. The two eventually get married and live in the Lyte mansion that Johnny now owns. He works as a silversmith, now that his hand is better, and becomes very wealthy. They then have children and live together happily until they die.

James Otis

James Otis was a real historical figure who is also depicted as a character in Johnny Tremain. A Whig and a lawyer, he was responsible for many of the ideals of the American Revolution. In the story of Johnny Tremain, James Otis seems to be a prophet. This is very evident during his speech in the attic of the Boston Observer where he foresees events and consequences of the coming war, such as Rab's death. During this speech he puts forward a number of principles about democracy and freedom and it is apparent that Esther Forbes is using him to voice her own opinions and views about the war and democracy.

By Ben Wagner
First published: June 1, 2006, Last updated: December 21, 2024

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