Fever 1793, Pt 2

Fever 1793   Part 2

Laurie Halse Anderson

 

     I have finished reading Fever, 1793 by Laurie Halse Anderson.  I can see now how the yellow fever epidemic directly effected Mattie's development throughout the book, from a typical teenage girl at the time, to victim, survivor, caregiver, and finally a mature version of herself. This crises and it's effect on Mattie is beautifully convayed as Laurie Halse Anderson describes the horrors of this time in history for her and others in Philidelphia.

     As victim, Mattie catches this contagious and terrible disease. In addition, her grandfather is attacked by thieves when they return to there coffee house a few weeks later. There are robbers everywhere. Mattie wittnesses her grandfather painfully die on the wooden floor of the ransacked coffee shop. Now she has no one to turn to. There are very few people on the streets and she cannot ask anyone for help.

     In the book, Mattie says that she is a survivor and she is not going to give up.  She has seen and felt the most terrible things and she seems to have the ability to understand and empathize with other people. For example, she helps a four year old girl named Nell who was orphand and on the streets. Mattie took her under her wing and treated Nell as though she was Mattie's first daughter. 

     Mattie also becomes a caregiver, not only for Nell, but others as well, For example, Mattie is reunited with her former maid and friend Eliza. She soon becomes an important part of Eliza's family. When her two nephews come down with the horrid fever, Mattie is always helping, never putting herself first.

                      "Trust me. please," I pleaded. ''They'll survive, I know they will. But if we

                      bleed them, we'll deliver them to the grave. We can't cut them". 

Mattie also begins working with Eliza in The Free African Society to nurse the citizens of Philadelphia back to health. Mattie and Eliza go from door to door, giving to those without food, and to those who were ill and needed care. Mattie's character develops in amazing ways, and she is empowered by helping others. 

     In the end, Mattie realizes what is truly important to her-her family, taking care of others and making their lives easier. Mattie partners with Eliza to run the coffee shop and Nell is always by Mattie's side as an official member of her family. Her crush Nathaniel Benson starts helping out in the business and draws pictures for the coffeeshop. It is clear that Mattie has deeply been affected by this terrible disease and has grown into a mature, responsible young lady.