Calico Captive

Susanna Johnson is an integral secondary character in Calico Captive. She is Miriam’s older sister and is married to Captain James Johnson. She has three children and gives birth to a fourth while marching through the wilderness. She is shown as morally incorruptible and devoted to her husband and children.

Susanna is devastated by the loss of her older children throughout the novel. First, her son Sylvanus disappears into the Abenaki tribe, and then her daughters Polly and Sue are adopted out to French families. But the loss of her husband James (as he travels for months to get ransom money) hits her the hardest. Susanna’s marriage is a model for which Miriam strives. Repeatedly, James and Susanna are shown as devoted to one another and their children. When Susanna is jailed with James and her children, she is at peace because he is with her:

Susanna’s face, pale and frighteningly thin, was curiously serene. In the murky light of the cell her eyes were luminous. ‘’Tis all right, Miriam,’ she answered quietly. ‘If only the children do not get sick. For me, it does not matter. I can stand anything now, anything, so long as James is with me again’ (223-24).

It is because Miriam has seen the mutual respect, devotion, and willingness to endure hardship to remain together that she declines to marry Pierre and, instead, leaves Montreal to journey to England, and then home. While Miriam grows independent of Susanna as the novel continues and she trusts her own judgement, she remains loyal to her sister and their bond strengthens as they become equals.

Susanna’s husband Captain James Johnson is a secondary character in the novel and he is absent for much of the narrative while attempting to get ransom money for his family’s freedom. James is shown as devoted to Susanna, and after Susanna gives birth to Captive, James carries Susanna in a wicker basket because she is too weak to walk. Repeatedly, he puts his own comfort behind the comfort of his wife and children.

James is a captain in the militia and this offers challenges and benefits for the family throughout the novel. James’s status allows Susanna and Miriam to stay in relative luxury when he leaves for Boston to get ransom, but it also keeps his family from being allowed to return directly to New England. The Governor does not want James to return to New England to fight against the French in the war, so he arranges for the family to go to Plymouth, England, instead. Ultimately, James is shown as a steadfast partner, brother-in-law, and father who sacrifices to ensure the safety of his family and models the type of husband for which Miriam longs.

Sylvanus, Sue, and Polly are secondary characters in the novel. They are Susanna and James’s children, and each of them has different experiences with Cultural Clashes and Assimilation. Sylvanus quickly assimilates into the Abenaki tribe and is welcomed and adopted by them. He loses interest in his family, and when Miriam sees him again, he does not recognize her and does not speak English anymore. In contrast, Polly refuses to allow herself to assimilate to the French culture, despite a wealthy French woman adopting her. She is given every object she might want, but Polly’s only desire is to be reunited with her mother. Sue, the middle child, exists in between these two extremes. She adapts to her adopted family and finds happiness with them, but still longs for her parents. Baby Captive, as an infant born on the initial march through the wilderness after the family’s capture, is the only Johnson child allowed to remain with Susanna throughout the events of the novel.

Hortense is an important secondary character because she is Miriam’s first true friend. Hortense is a French servant in the Du Quesne household, and she is engaged to Jules. Hortense has had a life of hardship and she cannot write or read, but she is devoted to her mother, younger siblings, and her fiancé Jules. Repeatedly, Hortense is a foil for Felicité. Felicité seems like Miriam’s friend but, ultimately, she abandons Miriam when it is no longer convenient. Hortense teaches Miriam French and is eager to learn English.

Hortense becomes integral to Susanna and Miriam’s survival when she welcomes them into her family’s cottage after the Du Quesnes turn them out. While her family has very little, they are welcoming and share everything they have, even risking starvation as others turn against them for helping the English. On Hortense’s wedding day, Miriam gives her friend a priceless gift, a beautiful wedding dress. Miriam struggled to give away her only object of value, but she is thankful that she does because of how happy Hortense is. When Miriam decides to leave, Hortense worries that they will become enemies because their countries are at war, but Miriam reassures her they will never become enemies.

Phineas Whitney is a young man who is only physically present in the narrative in the first chapter, but is still crucial to the story. He plans to become a minister but joins the militia because of the war. Phineas is Miriam’s love interest who shares his feelings with her the night before she is captured:

She could not have put into words just what sort of person she waited for. Yet from the first moment that Phineas had walked into the enclosure with the men, something within her had unmistakably recognized him. […] [T]here was a gentleness in his speech, and a purpose in his serious young face that set him slightly apart (13).

Phineas sends a letter to Miriam that becomes an important symbol of their love. As the novel continues, Pierre’s attention makes Miriam forget how she feels about Phineas. But in the end, after she realizes she might have lost Phineas, her feelings resurface.

Phineas and Pierre are foils, and Phineas is steady and loyal while Pierre is exciting but untrustworthy. Phineas is described as kind and gentle and Miriam feels as though she can tell Phineas anything. In contrast, Miriam is worried she will anger Pierre and watches her words. Ultimately, Miriam chooses the promise of a partnership with Phineas rather than the lonely marriage Pierre proposes.

Pierre Laroche is one of Miriam’s love interests, and he is a foil to Phineas Whitney. Pierre is a wealthy French trader, and he is courting Felicité Du Quesne. He is shown as arrogant, handsome, and extremely popular. Pierre is exciting, but quick to anger, and Miriam is careful about how she speaks to him because of that. Pierre shares exciting stories about his life, which makes Miriam daydream about an adventurous life with Pierre. But when Pierre proposes, he makes it clear that he intends for her to stay behind as he continues having adventures without her. Miriam does not see this as a true partnership like the one she’s seen with James and Susanna. Unlike Pierre, Phineas wants to have a shared future with Miriam, which is ultimately what Miriam chooses rather than stay and marry Pierre.

Madame Du Quesne is an antagonist through much of Calico Captive. Madame does not want to help the English prisoners but allows them to work for her because of her husband. She is greedy, and when offered money she is immediately nicer to Miriam and welcomes Susanna into her home. But this veneer of kindness disappears when Miriam’s popularity and fashion sense threatens to draw attention away from her daughter, Felicité. Madame turns Miriam and Susanna away, indifferent to their survival. Madame Du Quesne does serve a purpose later in the novel, because Miriam is able to use Madame’s vanity to get a job sewing a dress for Felicité.