Crispin: The Cross of Lead

As the novel’s narrator and protagonist, Crispin provides the filter through which the novel’s events are relayed and interpreted. As a recently orphaned 13-year-old boy, Crispin lacks self-esteem and becomes easily discouraged. Among other things, he lacks social status since he has no name of his own and no known father, and he blames his own perceived sinfulness for the bad things that happen to him. Following Bear’s observation that all people have both good and bad traits, Crispin thinks to himself, “But I am only bad, […] wishing yet again I knew what sin was imbedded in me to have brought God’s hand so hard upon me” (97). This quote demonstrates Crispin’s belief in himself as a passive recipient of God’s disapproval. As further evidence of his hesitation and indecisiveness, Crispin’s speech is frequently marked with ellipses, signaling pauses, especially early on. In Chapter 16 alone, when Crispin first meets Bear, his dialogue includes five ellipses in such phrases as, “I . . . didn’t understand it” and “It sounds like . . . treason” (65); Bear is quick to poke fun at what he calls Crispin’s “gifted way of speech” (63).

As time passes, however, Crispin learns to be more assertive in his speech and actions.