The Fifth Of March: A Story of the Boston Massacre

One of the central goals of the American revolutionaries was gaining the freedom to make their own choices. However, with choice comes responsibility. Throughout The Fifth of March, characters fight for the freedom to choose, and they must then reckon with the consequences of their choices. The people of Boston must choose whether to rebel against British rule or remain loyal to the Crown. While the Patriots choose rebellion and the Crown loyalists remain supportive of the monarchy, there are others who simply want to live their lives without the pressure of the conflict. As tensions rise, this middle ground shrinks, and people find themselves forced to choose a side. Amid this crisis, Rachel emerges as a paragon of the true power of choice: She chooses to do what she believes is right, and she faces the consequences with integrity. By keeping Matthew as a friend, Rachel steps outside the conflict and chooses the dignity and humanity of all people, showing what happens when she realizes that the power to choose rests with her. As she leaves the Adams household and prepares to start a life of her own, she feels happy despite the precarity of her situation. Though she doesn’t know what her future will look like, she knows it will be one she chooses for herself.