The Revolution in Tanner’s Lane · Chapter
Outside Pike Street explained
Major Maitland visits Zachariah's home, meets his wife, and discusses domestic life, politics, and religion.
What happens
Major Maitland visits Zachariah's home, meets his wife, and discusses domestic life, politics, and religion. Zachariah attends a meeting of the Friends of the People Club, where debates about reform and revolution occur, and he encounters a shoemaker who challenges his views.
Themes in this chapter
Social Class and Inequality
The chapter contrasts the domestic comfort of the Colemans with the misery of the Major's lodgings, and discusses the economic exploitation of the poor through taxes and rents.
Political Reform and Revolution
The Friends of the People Club debates reform versus physical force, and the Major argues for the Declaration of the Rights of Man against monarchy.
Religion and Hypocrisy
Zachariah's religious beliefs as an Independent deacon are contrasted with his exposure to the profane world of political activism, causing inner conflict.
Characters to notice
- Zachariah Coleman
Returns home to find Major Maitland visiting; later attends the Friends of the People Club meeting, where he is shocked by the behavior of some reformers.
- Mrs. Zachariah
Hosts Major Maitland for tea, discusses cleanliness and politics, and provides him with embrocation for his rheumatism.
- Major Maitland
Visits Zachariah's home, engages in conversation with Mrs. Zachariah, and later walks with Zachariah to the meeting.
- Reverend Thomas Bradshaw
Preaches a sermon on the Gospel Covenant at Pike Street Meetinghouse, which Zachariah attends.
Key passages
“Men are born and always continue free, and equal in respect of their rights. … Every citizen has a right, either by himself or by his representative, to a free voice in determining the necessity of public contributions, the appropriation of them, and their amount, mode of assessment, and duration.”
All people are born free and equal in rights, and each citizen has the right to vote on taxes and public spending, either directly or through a representative.
Major Maitland recites the Declaration of the Rights of Man to argue for democratic reform.
“How long would they have waited over the water if they had done nothing but jaw? They met together and tore down the Bastile, and that's what we must do.”
The French didn't achieve change by just talking; they took action by storming the Bastille, and we must do the same.
A speaker at the Friends of the People Club advocates for violent revolution rather than mere debate.