True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle- Chapters 9-15

Personal Response

In these chapters, Charlotte surprised me in soooo many ways. In the beginning, she acted really foolishly and told Captain Jaggery about the round robin, without thinking about the real consequences. In this way, she was very selfish because it seemed like she was only thinking about what would happen to HER if she didn't tell Captain Jaggery about the round robin, but she wasn't thinking about what it would cost the crew members if she sold them out to their worst enemy. All her life, Charlotte was grown to the fact that she should be loyal to the people of higher society, or gentlemen, and that choice of becoming Captain Jaggery's "eyes and ears" resulted in the death of Cranick, and the horrifying whipping of Zachariah.

But Charlotte does change, not just a little, but a LOT. Once she recognizes the true evilness if Captain Jaggery, it leads her to figure out that maybe she should make her decisions on her own, and not based on what she was taught to do. She left everything her mom, dad, and sorority teachers had taught her behind and went out of the way to help the crew and become part of their family. Charlotte became a more manlike figure, but she still kept some her qualities, such as her stubbornness and childishness. Even though it might seem that she became smarter after showing how much she wanted to prove herself to the crew, she still does some things that weren't so smart, such as yelling at Captain Jaggery and calling him a coward and fraud. By standing up to him, she was challenging his authority, much like she did when she whipped the Captain across the face to stop them from punishing Zachariah. But the difference between that and this were that she accidentally whipped Jaggery, while on deck, she purposefully called him names.

Charlotte might have been a very lady-like 13 year old girl in the beginning of Chapter 9, but as Chapter 15 comes to end, she proves everyone (the crew members, Captain Jaggery, and her dad) wrong by showing them that she is capable of much more than just curtsying and being led by someone her whole life.

Evaluate and Connect

Charlotte tries to become close to Captain Jaggery because since she was a little girl, she was always dependent on someone else and she felt that on the ship, Captain Jaggery was the only one who was close enough to being a gentleman to give her guidance. But, after she unintentionally whipped him, Charlotte believed that "no matter how distasteful, [she] must beg the captain's forgiveness"(pg 103) She was hoping that Captain Jaggery would forgive her and was trying to apologize by "being as ready as [she] could ever hope to be"(pg 103) and "to admit her fault and make amends"(pg 103).

Charlotte's decision to join the crew was a good one because the only way to gain the favor of the crew was by proving how sorry she was and that she wasn't just the pretty little lady who was dependent on someone else. When she climbs the royal yard and shows that she is stronger than she looks, she is greeted by a loud eruption of cheers from the sailors, but an angry Captain Jaggery. The crew accepts her happily because they saw her "desire to become a crew member not only as atonement, but also as a stinging rebuff to Captain Jaggery"(pg 128). After becoming a sailor, Charlotte notices that her once smooth hands had become rough like leather and her attire had changed from a pretty dress to sailor's clothing, trousers and a shirt.



This picture symbolizes the danger of the storm. Just like the monster can destroy/eat anything that comes in its way, a storm can also terrorize its victims by scaring them by the thought of drowning.

True Confession of Charlotte Doyle: Chapters 9-15 Reaction and Artistic Interpretations

Personal Response:

In chapter 9, Charlotte is foolish when she tells Captain Jaggery what she had found in Ewing's trunk. On pg, 85 it quotes"...when my much-loved brother broke a rare vase, and I, out of a high sense of duty told on him." Also, it quotes when she tells Captain Jaggery,"I saw... saw a pistol ... and i saw a... a round robin," shows that she was foolish enough to tell him and start a rebellion in a pityful way. Even though she acted foolish, she did have a wise mind after what she dealed with during the rebellion. On pg. 112, it quotes "With fumbling, nervous hands I put on the seaman's clothing," shows that she is really committing to be a member of the crew. Also, she goes up to Mr. Fisk and managed to say," I've come to be one of the crew."

Evaluate and Connect:

In the beginning of Chapter 12, she wants to get along with the captain because she knows that it was her fault that she interfered with the rebellion and whipped the captain's face. She quotes on page 103,"Beyond all esle i had been educated to the belief that when i was wrong - and how often had my pation father found me at fault - it was my responsibility - mine alone - to admit my fault and make amends." This shows that she was guilty of what she had done to Captain Jaggery and the crew during the rebellion. She realizes that she had lost control of herself and had to fix her problem. That is why she goes to Captain Jaggery and asks for forgiveness and didn't want to hold a hard burden over her heart.

When Charlotte chooses to become one of the crew when the members dislike her, it is actually wise for her to make that decision because of how she wants to take responsibility of what happened during the rebellion. She becomes more determined and learns much more facts when she is in the crew. Also, it builds relationship between them. At first, she is just a gentlewoman, but later on begins to grow and redeem herself. She becomes more self esteem about herself and isn't timid as much. On pg. 132, she states,"I don't intend to make a mistake...stated proudly." This shows that how certain she is about herself and that she isn't afraid as much anymore. Also, she learns how to turn down the captain when she should instead of acting like a princess to him. Therefore, becoming a member of the crew was one of the best decisions she has made because of how she learns about so much more and ,unlike following Captain Jaggery like a desperate person, but follows her own heart and conscience.

New Name Please!!!!!

People lets try to think of a new name for the blog. This name is boring!

Charlotte Doyle

I chose this picture because like the Seahawk, the church is located on an isolated place that can reach no help with a storm coming. Therefore, there is a type of terror because there is no where to go or find help.

Also, I chose a remix of the song Pirates of the Caribbean as the song but I have no idea how to upload it. However, I chose it because it has a gloomy tone that becomes lighter. Also, on parts of the song, someone says YOUR TIME IS UP! just like it was Captain Jaggery's end.

1. Charlotte Doyle's reaction to different situations in chapters nine to fifteen vary. However, most of her decisions were rash and foolish. For instance, she didn't believe Zachariah when he told Doyle what Captain Jaggery was a cruel and heartless person just because Jaggery was gentlemen-like. Therefore, Charlotte reported to the captain about the rebellion. This lead to Cranick's death and Zacharaih's very harsh whipping. Also, Charlotte's reaction to the whipping was stupid. She endangered her life to seize the whip from Captain Jaggery. However, even if she did steal it from Jaggery, Charlotte couldn't do anything with a whip since they are on a boat, and she can't run away. All of this concludes that Charlotte Doyle made many rash and foolish decisions.

2. Charlotte Doyle revered Captain Jaggery for many reasons. One was because he was the only gentleman on the boat. "From his fine coat, from his tall beaver hat, I knew at once-- without having to be told-- that this must be Captain Jaggery. And he-- I saw it in a glace was a gentleman, the kind of man I was used to. A man to be trusted." Since Carlottle Doyle was used to a refined life, she was accustomed to a governess and a gentleman that took care of her every need. Abandoned on a boat filled with strange men it is only expected that she would cling onto the only normal person on the boat. Therefore, Charlotte Doyle respected Captain Jaggery.

Charlotte Doyle: A wise fool

Personal Response:

I was surprised by Charlotte's actions in Chapters 9-15. She acted so stupidly! She was such a snitch when she told Captain Jaggery about the pistol and round robin. She just wanted to feel how she felt when she tattled on her brother when he broke a vase. She also trusted the captain, but in this process on snitching, she breaks her relationship with the crew. Later on, her snitching resulted in losing her relationship with both the Captain and the crew. Bring alone in a ship, "a country of its own", would be hard if you were an outcast. Being part of no group on the ship means that she had to go on by herself. What she finally did right was to try to win back the trust of the crew. It was a bit foolish, but her courage took over when she proved herself worthy by climbing the royal yard. She also was wise to retort at Captain Jaggery, but it was a bit foolish, since now the Captain will be unjust and cruel to her,bringing something bad soon in the future. She became a bit of a fool when she spat back at Jaggery because of a short temper. That made him a bit mad, bringing more bad luck to her.

Evaluate and Connect

Charlotte wanted to be closer to Captain Jaggery because he was the only gentleman on the ship(29). He was also the only thing that reminded her of the civilized life she has. Captain Jaggery looked like someone she could trust, so she did trust him. She wanted to prove loyal to Captain Jaggery, so she became the eyes and ears for him. She didn't know anything else about the sea, and since he was the most aristocratic man on board, she naturally chose him as a father-figure for the voyage's sake.

A Changing

Chapter 9-15 Reaction and Artistic Interpretations

Personal response: What is your reaction to Charlotte’s behavior in this section, chapter 9 – 15? Which of her actions seem wise or foolish to you? Explain why.

Evaluate and connect: Why does Charlotte try to get along with the captain? Find textual evidence to support your answer.

What do you think about Charlotte’s decision to join the crew who now hate her? Use textual evidence to support your answer.

Art and music connection:

Avi creates a vivid imagery with words that can be recreated in a painting or with music. Choose one of the two activities to complete:

1. paint/ draw/find a picture that expresses the terror and chaos of the storm. Your picture may represent exact details from the story, or it may be more abstract. Use color, shading, and images that show movement and express emotion.

2. Choose music that could accompany the storm scene and the period during which Charlotte falls asleep after the storm passes. Include the artist and title of the piece. Explain your choice and why it is appropriate.