Johnny Tremain :: essays research papers

The molten silver was bubbling in the cracked crucible. It started to spill all over its sides leaking down onto the floor. At first he felt nothing, then a great sudden pang. The pain was excruciating. His body collapsed on the floor with his hand following behind.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In the beginning of this book, a terrible accident befalls Johnny. One of his hands is badly burnt from an accident and he is scarred for life. He will never become a silversmith, a profession he aspires to be. With a shattered dream, he journeys out into the world of Boston to find himself another trade. There he meets Rab who is a sixteen-year old lad of few words. He is nevertheless calm, kind and caring. He is dedicated to his work at the Boston Observer. He helps Johnny find a job as a newspaper delivery boy for the Observer. He has a purpose in life and firmly believes in fighting against injustice brought on the American people by the British. He is a member of the â€Å"Sons of Liberty†. It is through this organization that Johnny’s life crisscrosses with some of the prominent members of the â€Å"Sons of Liberty†. First he runs errands for them and later he is actually involved with the activities of the organization. He helps by gath ering supporters and chopping up the tea at the Boston Tea Party. He loves the excitement and the adventures. He never doubts his physical courage till one day when he witnesses the shooting of a British deserter by the firing squad. The shooting badly unnerves him. He feels his own inadequacy. He begins to question if he really is a coward at heart. Johnny Tremain goes through a lot of change and growth throughout the book. In the beginning he is a smart, confident and hard-working teenager. He doesn’t have patience and despises his fellow apprentices whom he thinks are indolent and inferior. It is his pride of power that makes him rashly promise John Hancock that he can deliver the sugar basin. In an attempt to finish the basin on time he gets in an accident because of a cracked crucible passed to him by Dove. Dove wants to get even with Johnny for being treated badly by him. After the incident Johnny becomes very conscious of his disability. He realizes that he is not as valuable as before.