Previous
Chapter 25
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
Alan and David, nearly out of money, know they must soon reach Mr. Rankeillor, the lawyer in charge of David’s inheritance, or risk starvation. They decide to cross into the Lowlands via the most obvious route: Stirling Bridge. Alan believes that crossing where they are most expected may work in their favor. They lie in wait until nightfall, watching from a distance. An old woman eventually crosses the bridge, and her footsteps alert a dozing sentry. With the guard now awake, Alan calls off the crossing and leads David eastward. David protests, suggesting they swim the river instead, but Alan argues they need a boat and declares he will find or build one if necessary. They walk all night through the countryside, avoiding towns, and reach the coastal village of Limekilns the next morning. Limekilns sits across from their destiny, Queensferry.
As Alan and David prepare to cross Stirling Bridge, their decision to take the most obvious route shows how they’ve become accustomed to navigating danger. Alan believes that crossing where they are expected may work in their favor, using the predictability of the situation to their advantage. This constant shifting between risk and caution defines their journey, where survival is often about knowing when to move forward and when to retreat. It also shows how each character plays a role in making decisions, with David’s instinct to push ahead conflicting with Alan’s strategic thinking.
Themes
They stop for bread and cheese at a small change-house, served by a kind, observant young woman. Once they leave, Alan devises a plan to win her pity. He has David lean on him as if exhausted and pretends to nurse him through illness and fatigue. Back at the inn, Alan plays the role of protective caretaker, feeding David small bites of bread and sips of brandy, while lamenting the hardships his friend has faced. The girl watches closely, clearly moved. When she asks why David’s friends do not help him, Alan whispers that they are Jacobites and in no position to do so. To deepen her sympathy, he whistles a Jacobite tune. David, uncomfortable with the ruse, insists that he is loyal to King George and is headed for Mr. Rankeillor, a respected name the girl recognizes. Her doubts ease, and she agrees to help them cross the water.
The stop in Limekilns forces Alan to resort to manipulation to secure their passage. Alan sees his manipulation as a necessary deception in order to keep them alive, showing how he is willing to use any means to survive. David, on the other hand, feels uncomfortable with the ruse. His discomfort reflects his stronger sense of morality, even in desperate times. This clash between them, where Alan operates with pragmatism and David with honor, speaks to their larger ideological conflict throughout the novel. It is clear that survival requires compromises, but for David, these moments bring his values into conflict with the harsh reality of their situation.
Themes
That night, long after dark, the girl rows a stolen boat across the bay to retrieve them herself. She wakes no one and tells no one. She rows them across the Forth in silence, sets them ashore near Carriden, and departs without accepting thanks. David can only feel ashamed for having manipulated her goodwill, even though her actions mean salvation for them both. Meanwhile, Alan praises her repeatedly, calling her “a very fine lass.” Now at last across the river, Alan and David draw close to the end of their journey.
The young woman’s quiet act of kindness—rowing them across the Forth without expecting anything in return—stands in contrast to Alan’s manipulation. She acts purely out of goodwill, offering them simple kindness. David, feeling guilty for using her, faces the reality that their survival has come at the expense of others’ trust. He feels the weight of this manipulation more than Alan, who sees it simply as part of the journey.
Themes
