The Servant Girl
The Servant Girl emerges as a multifaceted and resilient protagonist. Initially relegated to a position of servitude in a plague-blighted settlement in the New World, she evolves into a symbol of courage and determination. Her character is defined by a fierce sense of agency and a profound desire for liberation which drives her to escape the shackles of her oppressive past.
Enduring unimaginable hardships in the wilderness, the Servant Girl's physical and spiritual journey forms the core of the narrative. She grapples with the harsh realities of survival, contemplates the meaning of life, and engages in philosophical introspection. The Servant Girl's unwavering dedication to caring for Bess even in the face of famine and suffering underscores her capacity for compassion.
Groff portrays her as a character who transcends societal limitations and patriarchal constraints making her an embodiment of the human spirit's unyielding quest for freedom and self-discovery.
Bess
Bess is a significant presence in the story, despite her limited physical abilities. She is the disabled child under the care of the Servant Girl and serves as a symbol of vulnerability within the harsh world of early colonial America. Groff portrays Bess with empathy, highlighting the challenges she faces in a challenging environment and the burden placed upon her caregiver.
Bess's suffering from starvation in the plague-blighted settlement catalyzes the Servant Girl's decision to escape. Bess's character highlights the complexities of caregiving and the enduring bond between caretaker and dependent in an environment where survival is a constant struggle.
The Glassblower
The Glassblower is a character encountered by the Servant Girl during her journey. He emerges as a figure of compassion and kindness amid the harshness of the colonial American wilderness. His gentle demeanor and his connection with the Servant Girl on their voyage from England to America serve as a contrast to the cruelty and hardship she later encounters.
The Glassblower represents a fleeting but essential moment of respite and hope, a reminder that amidst the challenges and trials of the new world, there are individuals who embody empathy and provide brief moments of solace in an otherwise brutal landscape.
The Minister
The Minister is a character who embodies authority and religiosity in the early colonial American setting. As the second husband of the Servant Girl's mistress, he represents the influence of the English church in the New World.
Groff portrays the Minister as a figure of icy and stern demeanor, a contrast to the warmth and kindness that the Servant Girl encounters elsewhere. His presence symbolizes the oppressive nature of religious and patriarchal authority in the 17th century, contributing to the harsh and unforgiving atmosphere in the settlement.
The Minister's character acts as the oppressive force that drives the Servant Girl to make her daring escape into the wilderness where she seeks freedom from such authoritative and rigid structures.
Powhatan and Piscataway People
The Powhatan and Piscataway People, encountered by the Servant Girl represent the indigenous inhabitants of the American wilderness in the 17th century. These characters embody the complex and often fraught relationships between European settlers and Native American tribes during this historical period.
The Powhatan and Piscataway People are portrayed as distant and enigmatic figures in the narrative. Their presence in the story underscores the clash of worldviews, the dispossession of native lands, and the tensions that simmered beneath the surface of early colonial America, adding layers of historical and cultural depth to the novel's exploration of wilderness and survival.
The Insane, Sadistic Jesuit Priest
The Insane, Sadistic Jesuit Priest is a deeply unsettling and malevolent character who haunts the wilderness where the Servant Girl seeks refuge. Groff portrays him as a figure driven to madness by the harsh conditions and isolation of the frontier. His sadistic tendencies and cruelty add an element of horror to the narrative as he becomes a source of terror for the Servant Girl during her journey.
This character serves as a chilling reminder of the darkness that can lurk in the human soul even in ostensibly religious figures and underscores the perilous nature of the wilderness where both natural and human threats converge.
