The Fifth Of March: A Story of the Boston Massacre

Rachel is the protagonist and point-of-view character of the novel, and she is based on the real-life Rachel Marsh, who was an indentured servant in the Adamses’ house around the time the book is set. Rinaldi created Rachel’s character to suit the story, though from letters written between John and Abigail Adams, she did glean Rachel’s desire to find her inner truth. Rinaldi keeps this bit of history alive through Rachel’s steadfast commitment to doing what she believes is right, as well as through her search for where she belongs. Rachel tells Jane in Chapter 1, “I want a place of my own” (9-10), and this desire becomes the motivating force behind Rachel’s triumphs and mistakes. At first, Rachel interprets this goal as a desire to be respected and seen as important. However, as she progresses through her character arc, Rachel realizes that others’ opinions of her matter far less than her opinion of herself.

Rachel represents both major themes, The Responsibility that Comes with Choice and The Importance of Independent Moral Judgment. At the beginning of the book, Rachel is comfortable in her situation and fears taking sides or making waves.