but Connecticut is a much different place with different rules.  While the colony isn't perfect, it isn't the colony that has to change - it is Kit.  She has to learn how to adjust to any environment.  It is part of growing up, and this is a story about Kit growing up, learning what is important to her and learning how to be tolerant.  Kit's maturing is made clear in the last chapter, as she happily accepts Nat's proposal and looks forward to a happy life.

For the other conflicts that Kit experiences, see the links below:

I think the main external conflict in the book is the conflict that exists between Kit and the Puritan society in general. Kit comes to Connecticut from Barbados where she was used to a certain level of wealth and prestige. Kit was also used to an easier life in which she did not have to do much manual labor. Her life in Barbados stands in sharp contrast to the Puritan society that she finds herself in for much of the book. The Puritan women are used to working and working hard. They wear drab clothing as well. For much of the book, Kit is simply a "fish out of water." Her attitude and expectations create conflict for her with other members of the town.

The division that exists between Kit and the town only grows as Kit begins to spend more time with Hannah Tupper. As the fever strikes the town, Hannah and Kit are targeted as necessary scapegoats. Kit is accused of being a witch, and she is put on trial. The accusations placed against Kit are not solid; they are rooted in the fact that Kit is different than the rest of them and spends time with other people the town has alienated.

Another conflict that is present in the story is the conflict that exists between the colonists and England. The best example of this conflict is the charter the colonists have that grants them certain rights and a certain amount of freedom. During this time in history, England attempted to revoke colonial charters. The townspeople in the story do not want that, so in chapter 15 they steal and hide the charter. The purpose of hiding the charter was to prevent it from being revoked so that Connecticut could maintain its own rule. This kind of conflict between the colonists and England will continue to grow until a war is necessary for the colonists to achieve full independence from England.

Elizabeth George Speare’s historical novel The Witch of Blackbird Pond is interwoven with various forms of conflict, both obvious and subtle. In fact, conflicts drive the plot, and through their gradual resolution, the reader witnesses the growth and maturation of the young protagonist, Kit Tyler.

The main conflicts take place on many levels. What kinds of conflict can you identify on the societal level and within Kit’s family? What are some of the interpersonal conflicts that take place, and how are they resolved? What are the conflicts that Kit faces within herself? These are some questions you may want to consider as you work on your assignment and recall specific examples of conflict.

The most significant conflict, introduced at the very beginning of the story, takes place between Kit and the unfamiliar norms of the Puritan society in which she finds herself. This happens because she steps into a world that is so unimaginably different from the only one she has ever known. For example, Kit is at first unaware that an ordinary activity such as swimming, which is perfectly normal on the island where she was brought up, can be seen as “proof” of witchcraft in Puritan New England. Kit experiences conflict in the form of culture shock driven by religious beliefs.

We also see conflict between Puritan beliefs and those of the Quakers. As a historical fact, Puritan intolerance of other religions (even other forms of Christianity) at times brought danger and even death to people outside of their own belief system. The ostracism and even branding of Quakers, like that of Hannah in the novel, was a reality of the times.

Within Kit’s family, we see conflict between Kit’s ideas, culture, and education, and the dictates of her Uncle Matthew, who is the strict Puritan head of the family. Kit and her cousin Judith have contrasting personalities and are sometimes at odds. Even Kit and Nat Eaton, the young man to whom she eventually becomes engaged, do not always see eye to eye.

Kit also experiences (and gradually resolves) conflict within herself. Her desire for independence from her family leads her to accept William Ashby’s courtship for a time, although she knows that they are not compatible. She finds a way to work out the conflict between her outlook and what is acceptable in Puritan society. The many tiers of conflict in the story help young Kit discover and hone her strengths and emerge as a young woman who is both true to herself and fully adapted to a new way of life.

The setting of The Witch of Blackbird Pond is Wethersfield, Connecticut in the 1680s. This New England town is a Puritan settlement, and though the settlers are trying to make the best of a difficult situation, the community does have some problems.

First of all, Wethersfield is a community focused on the practice of their religion. Outwardly, this focus may not seem like it would be a negative point, but the conservative nature of Puritanism means that anyone who strays from the norm is quickly regarded as suspicious. Also, Puritans are serious folk, and their stern manner makes the wintry weather even colder for people who might desire warmth and human connection.

Wethersfield is also a community of politically-minded citizens who are comfortable speaking openly of their desire for freedom. Political disagreements create issues amongst the citizens of the town who are already struggling to survive harsh winters and less-than-ideal living conditions.