Communication
When Bethia and Caleb first meet, they communicate through facial expressions and a made-up form of sign language. Despite this initial difficulty, the pair become true friends and have an intimate friendship.
The preacher's daughter
Bethia is the puritan preacher's daughter, and we might expect her to be rule-abiding and obedient. However, this is far from the truth as Bethia struggles with rules and often breaks them. She is depicted as wayward and rebellious, which makes her likable to the reader.
Irony of the New World
The "New World" is expected to be a place of opportunity and freedom. However, in the text we see that some people's freedoms and opportunities are restricted. For example, Bethia is denied an education due to her gender.
