The desire to succeed
The ubiquitous theme in the novel The Notorious Benedict Arnold is the desire to succeed. The characters, Arnold and André, are determined to regain their family's glories. Arnold's family lost its fortune when he was a young boy, but he is optimistic that after joining the army, he will be rich and restore his family's lost wealth. Similarly, André's family lost its wealth due to the harsh economic situation while he was growing up. André wants to work hard to help his family live a comfortable life. Consequently, Arnold and André have no shortcut but to work hard to uplift their families.
Betrayal
Betrayal is one of the central themes in the novel The Notorious Benedict Arnold. During the independence struggle, Arnold is initially depicted as a loyalist in the American Revolution movement. After participating in various victorious battles against the British, Arnold decides to betray his fellow Americans to gain selfish ambitions. Arnold secretly shifts his allegiance to the British army and expects to be given a superior position. Arnold does the contrary because he starts sharing the American tactics and strategies in the war with the British. When the American superiors discover Arnold's move, she relocates to Britain. Unfortunately, Arnold is not given any position in the British army. Arnold tries to do international business in Britain but fails to succeed. In his last days, Arnold regrets his decision to betray America, the country he fought so hard to help gain independence.
Competition
The rivalry between Arnold and Ethan is evident in the novel. Arnold and Ethan are the heads of militias formed in Connecticut to fight the British army in the struggle for independence. However, Arnold and Ethan are competing on who should order their militia to ambush Fort Ticonderoga, occupied by the British army. The confrontations between Arnold and Ethan continue until Arnold leads his troops alone to attack the British soldiers. Despite Ethan's support from the Green Mountain Boys, he decides to work with Arnold's commands.
