Fever 1793

Midway through the novel, Mrs. Bowles, a woman caring for orphaned fever victims, observes that the outbreak “‘seem[s] to bring out the best and worst in the people around us’” (114). Anderson uses the “‘trying times’” (114) of the epidemic as a commentary on human beings’ reactions to calamity on a massive scale and human nature as a whole. While the novel includes many examples of both selflessness and cruelty, the author focuses on humans who choose to care for others despite their own suffering.

The human instinct to protect oneself above others is highlighted the moment yellow fever arrives in Philadelphia: the wealthy “‘fle[e] to their country estates’” (60) while the poor who’ve contracted the fever lie on the floor of a vacant building “‘with little water and no care’” (59). Matilda witnesses the effect of human selfishness after she and Grandfather head to the countryside with a farmer and his family. When the farmer learns that Grandfather, who appears sickly, won’t be allowed through a town, the farmer is so desperate to get through with his own family that he throws Matilda and Grandfather onto the road and drives off, not even bothering to give them their food and luggage. Grandfather asks the town guards for help, but they too reflect self-concern, saying “‘We have to take care of our own’” (83). While such behavior frustrates Matilda, the author does not condemn the guards directly. The instinct to protect oneself and one’s family is a natural one, and even Grandfather says, “‘I shall look after mine’” (83).

When Matilda contracts the fever and ends up in the hospital, she overhears stories about a dying man who “begged” (106) for water while others ran away from him and of thieves who “stole jewelry off the dead and dying” (106). However, Matilda is impressed by the stories of “good people” (106), such as the one “brave soul” (106) who gave water to the dying man and the people who helped strangers without accepting payment, even if “they themselves were […] near destitute” (106). The makeshift hospital where Matilda stays is also an example of selflessness from an unexpected source: Stephen Girard—a rich French merchant and true historical figure—chooses not to escape the fever and instead transforms the Bush Hill hospital into a well-functioning place with capable French doctors.

At this point in the novel, Matilda is not ready to act so selflessly. She refuses Mrs. Bowles’ request to stay and help the orphans, but when she returns to Philadelphia, she encounters even more examples of human greed brought out by tragedy. Matilda and Grandfather come home to find thieves have already rampaged the coffeehouse, not just taking valuables but also purposelessly “‘destroying everything they touched’” (125). More thieves arrive, attacking Grandfather and causing his death. With this new tragedy, Matilda has witnessed what seems like the worst of human behavior. However, when she accompanies Grandfather’s body to the mass grave, she encounters a more positive human response: When the man pushing the death cart and the gravediggers see Matilda’s anguish, they treat Grandfather’s corpse with “respect” (151) and pause to pray, despite the endless, terrible task they must complete.

After losing her grandfather, Matilda is finally ready to participate in the more selfless aspect of human response to tragedy. Matilda rescues and takes responsibility for a young girl, Nell, whose mother died from the fever. Matilda reconnects with Eliza, who, along with many other members of the Free African Society, has tirelessly devoted herself to helping the sick without accepting payment. The Free African Society, a real-life organization, provides another example of human compassion. Eliza proclaims that “‘the Society has done a remarkable job […] car[ing] for thousands of people without taking notice of color’” (176). While helping Eliza in her Society work, Matilda witnesses yet more examples of both selfish and selfless human behavior: the apothecarist overcharges for medicine, making money off of others’ misfortune, while a wealthy merchant family stayed in town because the wife wouldn’t leave her sick servant girl behind.

After seeing the best and worst of human nature, Matilda—and the author—choose to be thankful for the good within human beings, which has only become stronger in the most difficult of times. Matilda starts a new life with some of these good people, including Eliza and Nathaniel, and believes the future is full of “promise” (243). 

In an appendix following the novel, Anderson emphasizes the good deeds over the negative ones, saying that the “extraordinary” real-life figures who helped the sick, like the members of the Free African Society and the hospital staff at Bush Hill, “are the real heroes of this story” (251). Anderson’s incorporation of true acts of selflessness adds greater depth to her exploration of human nature and her affirmation of the good within humanity.