Charlotte Doyle Brought On Trial And Found Guilty

Charlotte Doyle

“Not every thirteen-year-old girl is brought on trial and found guilty.”- Charlotte Doyle

Today’s children hardly cross the street or play outside by themselves. Charlotte Doyle spent two months on a ship by herself! Charlotte Doyle is a young lady, thirteen years of age, who was sentenced to death during the voyage because she was accused of murder and found guilty. She was born in Providence, Rhode Island. Her family is very wealthy and proper. Because of this, Charlotte spent seven years in England in a fancy school for girls. At the end of her seventh year, Charlotte was to go home on a ship without her parents. There was supposed to be two other families riding with her but they didn't show up. Charlotte was left to cross

In the beginning of the book, Charlotte was expecting two families to ride the long voyage with her. When they didn't show up, Charlotte exclaimed, “I’m sure they will come!” Clearly she trusted that her companions would come. Her loyalty to the people that left her alone showed her that she couldn't expect all plans to work exactly right on the ship. Another time, when the trip was just beginning and Charlotte didn't see the captain for who he was, Charlotte told the captain about the crews plan of a mutiny and their round robin. The captain had told her that if she saw a round robin, or anything else that hinted of a rebellion, she was to report it to him right away. Charlotte did as she was told and informed the captain right away. Her loyalty to the captain proved to the captain and the crew that she could be trusted to do as she was told. Later in the book, Charlotte was being tried for the murder of the first mate that she did not do. She didn't know who actually did it, but she suspected Zachariah, her friend and crew member. Charlotte thought, “I didn't dare blame Zachariah for fear that he would be killed.” Charlotte’s loyal character helped her learn important lessons and get people to trust her when they didn't do it

One thought that she had that showed her perseverance was, “The more objections they made, the more determined I was.” This happened when Charlotte decided to join the crew after the captain killed two other members. She wanted to join them so badly that the more they objected, the more she wanted to join them. Another time, when the captain shot Mr. Cranick, Charlotte yelled, “I’ll go right to the courts! You won't be captain any longer!” Charlotte was very afraid at this moment in the story. Despite being scared, she still managed to persevere and stand up to Captain Jaggery. Finally, during a hurricane when Charlotte was a crew member, Captain Jaggery asked her to go and do the dangerous job of fixing the bowsprit. One crew member tried to volunteer to do it for her. Charlotte was so set on proving that she could be a member of the crew that she persevered and did it all herself. Unquestionably, Charlotte’s perseverance was a big thing in helping her get through tough