The Hidden Hand

When looking at this novel it is very difficult to pick out just one aspect that really caught my attention or just one part that I found particularly interesting. With that being said, there is one specific quote in this literature piece that caught my eye and really contrasted everything we’ve read thus far.
“Yes, sir and the only thing that made me feel sorry was to see what a fool I had been not to turn to a boy before, when it was so easy! And from that day forth I was happy and prosperous! I found plenty to do! I carried carpet bags, held horses, put in coal, cleaned sidewalks, blacked gentlemen’s boots and did everything an honest lad could turn his hand to!”
This quote really makes you look at the role of little girls through a different lens. Capitola was so passionate about doing the works of a boy, this makes you realize the strict roles that society had placed on little girls. So far this semester we’ve really only looked at little girls and their roles and expectations in society. Some being proper, (Ellen) while some being rebellious, (Gerty) but we have never really had the opportunity to look at a girl this age being able to open her own eyes to the role of a boy. Southworth was really able to completely turn around children’s literature of the nineteenth century which is why this certain piece of literature became so popular at the time.