Caleb’s Crossing by Geraldine Brooks Essay Example

Caleb’s Crossing by Geraldine Brooks Essay Example Caleb’s Crossing by Geraldine Brooks Essay Caleb’s Crossing by Geraldine Brooks Essay Caleb’s Crossing, by Geraldine Brooks, explores the relationship between Bethia Mayfield, the daughter of a Puritan European colonist, and Caleb, the son of a Wompanog chieftain, as well as Caleb’s journey from being a Native American to learning European customs and ultimately getting an education at Harvard. Throughout the novel, Bethia is drawn to Caleb and his native culture, despite being apprehensive at first. This is because it is such an alien world to her and, shown as being a naturally curious person, she wants to learn more. She eventually finds Caleb to be a blank canvas for her to spread her ideals upon and to teach, since he had no prior experience with European customs and religion. Bethia is very drawn to Caleb because European concepts of religion and culture are so new to him. She even describes him as, â€Å"unschooled†1, showing her acknowledgement of his lack of modern education. During the secret times of their friendship, he questions her about her religion, â€Å"Only one god. Strange, that you English, who gather about you so many things, are content with one and only. And so distant, up there in the sky†2. In response to this, Bethia doesn’t say anything, mostly because she, â€Å"hardly knew what to say to one so lost†3. This is the moment that Bethia really realizes how different Caleb’s culture is from hers, and feels the desire to take him under her wing and share with him what education she has managed to attain despite her gender-based setbacks. The next day, Bethia shares one of her favorite books with Caleb, â€Å"He made me smile, opening it upside down and back to front, but he touched the pages with the utmost care the godliest among us did not tough the Bible with such reverence as he showed to that small book†4. This interaction shows how pleased Bethia is with herself for introducing Caleb to this new concept and how amused she is at his lack of European knowledge. It also shows how Caleb is