Toliver's Secret

Grandfather is an important side character who is a large influence on Ellen and inspires her to work as a spy for the Patriots. He has sandy red hair but wears a white wig with a “turned up tail” and has a “friendly and cheerful” disposition with everyone, including British officers (5). This demeanor is essential for his work as a spy. The British soldiers take a shine to him for being a “cheerful little Dutchman” (8). Due to his work as a barber, Grandfather treats minor injuries in his community. He “always had leeches handy to put on bruises and swellings” (21). In the medieval period, barbers performed minor surgeries, particularly bloodletting and tooth extractions. By the 18th century, the popularity of going to barbers for minor medical procedures had gone out of fashion, and laws were passed in both France and England outlawing barbers from completing medical procedures (Sutton, Brian. “Hirsute Historium: A Brief History of Bloodletting & Barbers.” Beardsgaard Barbers, 2022). It is probable that Grandfather was one of the last of his profession.

Though Mother insists that Ellen cannot fight back against Dicey when she bullies Ellen because she’s a girl, Grandfather suggests suitable ways to resist Dicey’s cruelty. He suggests that she not fight with “fists” but with “brains,” standing up to Dicey and staring her down (14). At the novel’s beginning, Grandfather believes in Ellen more than she believes in herself. When Ellen says, “I don’t have courage like other people” (42), Grandfather doesn’t grow frustrated or angry. He calmly says, “I don’t agree with you” (42) and then lists the moments he has observed her courage: “when you and your mother walked ten miles to New York,” “when you two stayed all alone in your house with war all around you,” and “when you brought the leeches to put on my ankle” (42). He demonstrates the courage of her everyday actions. Ellen doesn’t think of these as brave moments, but Grandfather’s gentle encouragement begins to change the way she thinks about herself.

Ellen’s mother is a kind, supportive, traditional woman. At times, she serves as a foil for Grandfather, particularly as it pertains to Traditional 18th-Century Gender Roles. Both she and Grandfather strongly support Washington, though Mother tells Ellen they must “lie low” in case any of their neighbors support the British (20). This is an iteration of Mother’s tendency to “worr[y] about everything” (21). She especially worries about her remaining family since her husband was killed and her son is missing. Mother’s commitment to the cause overpowers her fear, and she offers to take the bread loaf in Grandfather’s stead before Ellen does.

When Grandfather suggests that Ellen take the loaf containing the message, Mother’s worrying, combined with her adherence to her era’s gender norms, comes to the fore. She protests that Ellen cannot do a “man’s work” (38) and that wearing breeches is “unseemly” (49). When she cuts Ellen’s hair, Ellen is the one who comforts her Mother about her hair growing back.

Grandfather kindly scolds Mother for her lack of faith in Ellen, acknowledging Mother’s fears about putting more family members in danger but asking her not to “make the child timid” (47) and instill fear in Ellen before she has a chance to attempt hard things. Mother also learns a lesson about Finding Self-Confidence in Adverse Circumstances. She learns that she must give Ellen a path forward to finding her confidence and not shield her from the world around them at Ellen’s expense.

Higgins is a British soldier who acts as a mentor and friend to Ellen. She describes Higgins as “sad-faced” with a “tired and woe-begone” expression (70). Higgins is kind and immediately adopts a fatherly role toward Ellen since his son Tom “looks like you. Same pale face. Same big eyes” (71). He tells Ellen he is “homesick to see a boy who favors Tom” (71). These humanizing characteristics of Higgins begin to complicate Ellen’s preconceived notions about British soldiers as her innate enemy. She thinks that Higgins looks “kind” but also isn’t sure if she can “trust an enemy” (71).

Though Ellen never confides her personal information in Higgins, Higgins supports her and defends her against Dow. He apologizes for Dow pulling her into the boat but expresses confidence in her ability to get back because “all you Yankees are plucky” (81). Higgins does not disparage the American colonists like other British soldiers do. He gives Ellen thoughtful advice on how to confront bullies that helps her when she is Finding Self-Confidence in Adverse Circumstances. Higgins nuances the theme of The Impact of War on Individuals and Families. While it is immediately obvious how colonial the war impacts families, Higgins serves as a humanizing face to the novel’s antagonistic force, the British Army.

Dow is a British soldier who acts as a minor character and an antagonist. Ellen meets Dow when she is trying to find a boat to Elizabeth. Ellen describes him as “a husky man with a dirty fringe of scraggly hair beneath his black hat” (70). He smells the loaf of bread and pulls her onto their boat as it leaves the dock, intending to steal it from her. In this way, Dow accidentally propels the narrative forward, as his antagonistic actions set Ellen on her path across the Bay and toward Elizabeth.

He is Higgins’ foil and confirms all of Ellen’s worst assumptions about British soldiers. He treats Ellen harshly and physically pushes her around, clamping a hand over her mouth to keep her quiet as he tries to wrestle the bread loaf away from her, then pulling on her arms and hair. Only Higgins questions Dow’s actions toward Ellen or expresses support for Ellen in the face of Dow’s assault.

Though Dow acts blustering and conceited, he is the only one who questions Ellen’s identity. He says that she is “mighty pretty for a boy. Almost as pretty as a girl” (83), and later calls her a “rebel” and attempts to toss her overboard. Though nothing ultimately comes of these accusations, they rattle Ellen. Dow is easily distracted by Higgins, who does what he can to take Dow’s attention away from Ellen.