The House Is on Fire

The fire creates a huge rent in the fabric of Richmond society. As the repercussions of the tragedy ripple out in the days afterward, it becomes clear to the main characters that the foundations on which their society is built are far less solid than they once believed. Sally is exposed to this as the men around her fail the women they are supposed to protect, leaving her and Mrs. Cowley to bridge the gap. This is clearest when Dr. Foushee defers to Archie when Mrs. Crowley advocates for amputating Margaret’s leg; his judgment is valued above hers, but it might cost Margaret her life. Gilbert also recognizes this when seeing Samuel Jefferson’s free papers. Having never thought about running before, the fire and its consequences place him in a position to help Cecily run. As he forges her free papers, he realizes that “all any of these documents are is words, and not even very mysterious words. Words like free and rights and liberty. How can it be that so few words, scratched on a piece of letter paper, are what’s separating Sara and him from a life of freedom?” (317).