Essay On Johnny Tremain

Lavinia Lyte Tremain once stated to her son, “Johnny, if there is not one thing left for you and you have no trade and no health, and God Himself has turned away His face from you, then go to merchant Lyte…” Esther Forbes, page 28. Johnny should pursue the Lyte’s help for three reasons: for family, for a lesson and for obedience.
The first reason Johnny should pursue the Lyte's help is for family. At this time in his life, Johnny disengaged with his only living family members. The Lyte’s remained his only living family members and Johnny desired to personally meet and learn more about them. Johnny rummaged for a home. Generously, the Lapham’s allowed Johnny to bunk with them, but ultimately the Lapham’s only provided a place to sleep, not a home. They insisted on kicking him out of the house because of Johnny’s inconvenient disabilities. Johnny had no other choice than to pursue the Lyte’s. In addition, he desired to. The book, Johnny Tremain states, “Now that he had to speak, he found there was a barrier across his throat, something that he would have to struggle to get his voice over. He was more excited than he realized.” Esther Forbes, page 82.

The second reason Johnny should pursue the Lyte’s help is for a lesson.

Johnny needed a wakeup call. Normally, family accommodates their kin instantly, but that’s not always the case. In Johnny’s predicament he was rejected of his kinship to his family. Without visiting the Lyte’s, Johnny would have never returned the ‘silver cup’. The silver cup epitomized a burden. The cup only represented pride and arrogance. It symbolized the prideful and arrogant Lyte family. When Johnny rid of this cup, he transformed into a new person. The cup stood for his old self and his old ways, but without the cup he bloomed into a better

person.
The third reason Johnny should pursue the Lyte’s help is for obedience. The Lapham’s commanded Johnny, “I want you to go around, look about the shops, and find out a respectable trade where a bad hand won’t matter too much.” Esther Forbes, page 51. The Lapham’s demanded that Johnny eventually find another house. Johnny searched many shops, but non that accepted him with his deformed hand. Desperately, he approached the Lyte family for a long term home. Also, Johnny adhered to his mother’s words, “…if you have no trade…go to Merchant Lyte and show him your cup and tell him your mother told you before she died that you are kin to him.” Esther Forbes, page 28. Johnny’s trade was in fact broken with the Lapham’s. Lastly, Johnny heeded himself and his words. He promised himself to pursue the Lyte’s help if necessary. Johnny wasn’t sure if the Lyte’s would acknowledge his kinship to them, but there was a slight chance of acceptance. A small chance compared to nothing was worth even the slightest shot.
Lavinia Lyte Tremain commanded Johnny to not search for the Lyte’s help unless absolutely necessary. Johnny simply obeyed his mother’s words. He was confused and lost. Before the endeavor to the Lyte’s Johnny was lost, and afterwards he was found.