April Morning is a story about a boy’s extremely rapid transformation from boyhood to manhood. There are a few significant events that can sum up the whole of his metamorphosis. These include the death of Adam’s father, Adam’s time with Solomon Chandler, and his experience during the battle against the Recoat soldiers. When a boy’s father dies, the impact of this can be very traumatic. When a death happens, a very large piece of one’s life dies with it. Adam Cooper’s father is a very important character in this novel.
The presence of Adam’s father, Moses, shows how Adam is still a boy under the thumb of an adult, yet, when Moses is killed on the common, his absence propels Adam into a new phase of his life. At Moses Cooper’s death, the men of the village are lined up in formation on the common. Not one man in that group expected to fight the British. However, the British opened fire upon the column of villagers. The first to perish is Moses Cooper. Adam sees this, but he does not have time to mourn just yet.
Adam runs from the common, away from the Redcoats, and to the first refuge he can find. The first shelter he finds is the smokehouse. It is at this point after the massacre on the common that Adam finally has time to think about what happens. The reality finally sets in, and Adam lets out his emotions. Solomon Chandler is also a very influential character in Adam’s development after his ordeal at the common. Solomon’s calm attitude and words of wisdom helped Adam cope with the pain from his father’s death. Solomon tells Adam to let out his emotions because that is normal.
He also explains to Adam why he should have a deep sense of respect for his fears, which are the Redcoat soldiers, and the only way to overcome them is to face them. During the whole period of time when Adam and Solomon are walking through the countryside, Solomon acts as a shoulder for Adam to cry on. Solomon is also a temporary “replacement” for Adam’s father in that he acts as a father figure towards Adam. The large retaliation attack mounted by the colonists ended the immediate English threat in the region.
Adam does not play a major role in the outcome of the battle, however the battle plays a major role in Adam’s development. This is the point at which Solomon’s advice is put to the test. Adam faces his fears, and overcomes the hatred and fear he has for the Redcoats. After the battle gets up and going though, Adam is exhausted and falls asleep. Adam’s progression into manhood is now complete. At the end of the novel, Adam understands that he must eventually go back to fighting, but he realizes that his priority is watching over his mother, Granny, and Levi.
