On page 183, Mattie says "I feel like a turncoat, a traitor". A turncoat is a historical reference to someone who switches polit
ical sides, like Benedict Arnold in the American Revolution who joined the British after serving in the Continental Army. Explain why Mattie feels like a turncoat. Do you think she is being a traitor? Why or why not?
She feels like a turncoat because she is taking Nell to the orphan house.
Explanation:
She feels like a turncoat because she is taking Nell to the orphan house. Mattie is not a traitor because Nell is not her child and is going to end up at the orphan house. It was Madam Smith who advised Mattie to take Nell to the orphan house, at first Mattie did not want to take Nell to the orphan house, she loved her and took good care of her and felt that at the orphan house no one would take good care of her.
It's known as an allusion "An allusion is a figure of speech that makes a reference to, or representation of, people, places, events, literary work, myths, or works of art, either directly or by implication"
