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Chapter 18
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
After nightfall, Alan and David make their way to Aucharn, the home of James Stewart, arriving to find the place in chaos. Torches flicker as men rush to hide weapons and burn documents. Alan signals their arrival with three whistles, and James Stewart—tall, anxious, and commanding—greets them at the gate. Alan introduces David only vaguely, concealing his name but calling him a Lowland laird. James is in a panic over the murder of Colin Campbell, now realizing someone must take the blame.
The arrival at Aucharn places Alan and David in the center of a political crisis. James Stewart’s fear is immediate and practical. He knows the British response to Campbell’s murder will be swift and unforgiving, and he begins stripping his household of anything that might tie him to rebellion. Alan and David become liabilities the moment they step through the gate.
Themes
As James frantically tries to conceal anything suspicious, he instructs a servant to bury Alan’s French clothes along with the weapons. When Alan sees this, he angrily snatches the bundle and retreats to the barn to change, refusing to let his garments be hidden. Meanwhile, David stays behind and witnesses the strain overwhelming James, who breaks down in fear and frustration. When his son mistakenly burns a paper James meant to keep, James lashes out and strikes him, shouting in anguish about the danger now hanging over the entire household.
Alan’s reaction to James’s attempt to bury his clothes shows how deeply tied he is to his identity. He does not see his French uniform as evidence to be hidden but as a part of who he is and what he has fought for. David remains in the background, observing how fear affects everyone differently. He sees how little space exists between guilt and innocence when soldiers are looking for someone to blame.
Themes
Once Alan returns in his French outfit and David receives fresh clothes and Highland brogues, the household prepares them for flight with swords, pistols, food, and a small amount of money. But James insists he must “paper” both Alan and David—putting up wanted notices with descriptions of them—in order to clear his own name. Alan is furious at the betrayal, especially on David’s behalf, but James insists it is the only way to avoid being hanged himself. When Alan turns to David for a decision, David says the blame should be placed on the real killer, not innocent men. However, when James pushes back, David gives in and allows the blame to be placed on his and Alan’s shoulders. Then, Alan and David flee before soldiers can come looking for them.
When James announces he must post descriptions of Alan and David, the pressure turns personal. Alan takes it as a betrayal, especially given David’s clear innocence, and David speaks up against it. But when James insists, David agrees because he sees that there is no other way to protect the people still in the house. This is not a moment of defeat; it is a recognition of how power works in Appin, and of what survival demands. David does not abandon his sense of justice, but he learns how to carry it without expecting the world to agree.
Themes
