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Chapter 16
Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in Kidnapped, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Political Conflict and National Identity
Trust and Betrayal
Justice vs. Injustice
Coming of Age
Summary
Analysis
David leaves Henderland with a fisherman who agrees to take him across Loch Linnhe into Appin, saving time and money. As they sail through the still waters, David spots a group of redcoats (English soldiers) marching into Appin. The boatman confirms they are likely there to control the rebellious tenants. Disturbed, David lands early in a birch wood near Lettermore. While eating bread, he debates whether to continue seeking Alan or abandon the journey altogether. His thoughts are interrupted by the arrival of four travelers: a red-haired gentleman, a lawyer, a tartan-clad servant, and a sheriff’s officer. The red-haired man is Colin Campbell, the Red Fox. David unwittingly asks him for directions to Aucharn.
The sight of English soldiers marching into Appin confirms everything David has heard about rising tension in the Highlands. The British government’s effort to suppress Jacobite loyalties after the 1745 uprising relied heavily on military occupation, land seizures, and forced evictions—especially in regions like Appin where clan allegiance remained strong. David’s accidental conversation with Campbell shows how little he understands the immediate danger he’s in, and how closely his personal safety is tied to broader political forces.
Themes
Before Colin Campbell can respond, a shot rings out from the hillside. He falls, fatally wounded, while the lawyer and servant cry out in shock. David runs uphill and catches sight of the assassin before he disappears into the trees. The lawyer suddenly shouts to the soldiers that David is an accomplice. As redcoats close in on David, Alan appears, pulling David into cover. The two flee along the hillside, sometimes running, sometimes crawling. At last, Alan stops, gasping for breath, and David collapses beside him, exhausted and stunned.
The murder of Colin Campbell plunges David into a conflict far larger than anything he’s prepared for. Although he is only a bystander, his proximity to the crime, combined with the political sensitivity of the moment, makes him a target. The real Appin Murder in 1752 led to a controversial trial that ended in the execution of James Stewart of the Glens, despite little evidence of guilt—a case that has remained politically charged ever since. The accusation against David mirrors this injustice, placing him at the mercy of a system eager for a conviction, any conviction—whether the accused is guilty or not.
Themes
