Chapter summaries Alexandra Petri's US History Alexandra Petri

Chapter 7: A Spider Objects to Jonathan Edwards

⚠️ Spoiler Warning: This guide contains detailed spoilers for the entire novel. Proceed only if you've finished reading or are comfortable knowing the plot.

Summary

In Chapter 7, a spider writes an open letter to Jonathan Edwards, objecting to his use of spiders as a metaphor for sinners in his sermon “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God.” The spider describes its life: building webs, catching flies, and caring for its spiderlings. It insists it is not loathsome but a hardworking arachnid that provides a service by keeping flies out of the church. The spider rejects Edwards’s characterization, argues for its own dignity, and threatens to stop its pest control. The chapter offers a satirical counterpoint to Edwards’s fire-and-brimstone rhetoric, giving voice to the creature used as a symbol.

Key Events

  • Jonathan Edwards preaches “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God” during the Great Awakening, comparing sinners to spiders held over a flame.
  • A spider hears about the sermon and decides to write a formal letter of objection.
  • The spider notes the difficulty of composing the letter, as it must spell everything with silk from its spinnerets, and a dog once ruined its work.
  • The spider explains its daily routine: sitting in its web, watching for vibrations indicating a fly, then catching and stabbing the fly with venom.
  • It defends its character as a hard worker who feeds thousands of spiderlings and provides a vital service by reducing fly populations in the church.
  • The spider clarifies it is an arachnid, not a loathsome insect, and signs off with a curt “Good day sir,” expressing no interest in joining Edwards’s congregation.

Character Development

The Spider: The only active character. Initially a passive symbol, the spider becomes an assertive, articulate creature with a strong sense of self-worth. It demonstrates pride in its work, concern for its family, and a clear understanding of its ecological role. Its tone shifts from wounded surprise to indignant defiance, ultimately threatening to withdraw its pest-control services. This development gives agency and voice to a creature typically disregarded.

Jonathan Edwards (mentioned): Though not present, Edwards is characterized indirectly through the spider’s criticism as insensitive and demeaning, using fear-based rhetoric that dehumanizes his listeners by comparing them to loathsome beings.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

  • The Power of Metaphor: The chapter critiques how metaphors can flatten complex subjects. Edwards uses “spider” as a shorthand for loathsomeness, ignoring the spider’s actual life and value.
  • Voice and Representation: By giving the spider a platform, the chapter highlights whose stories get told in history. The spider’s letter is a protest against being used as a symbol without consent.
  • Dignity of All Creatures: The spider argues that it is as good as any of God’s creatures, challenging Edwards’s hierarchy of value.
  • Satire as Historical Commentary: Petri uses humor and anachronism (a spider writing a letter) to question the severity of Great Awakening sermons and their legacy.
  • Work Ethic: The spider emphasizes its hard work and contribution to the community, subverting Edwards’s image of idleness and sin.

Why This Chapter Matters

This chapter adds a human (or arachnid) face to a pivotal moment in American religious history. The Great Awakening reshaped colonial society, and Edwards’s sermon is emblematic of its emotional intensity. Petri’s satirical take reminds readers that historical figures and their ideas can be examined from alternative viewpoints. The spider’s objection serves as a metacommentary on historical criticism—showing that those used as rhetorical props often have their own stories worth telling. It also lightens the study of history by injecting humor without disrespecting the subject’s seriousness.

Study Questions and Answers

  1. Why does the spider object to Jonathan Edwards’s sermon?
    The spider objects because Edwards used spiders as a metaphor for “loathsome insects” held over hellfire, which the spider finds insulting and inaccurate. The spider believes it is a hardworking community member, not a symbol of sin, and demands respect.

  2. How does the spider’s letter challenge the effectiveness of Edwards’s sermon?
    The spider points out that it provides a valuable service—keeping flies out of the very church where Edwards preaches. By threatening to withdraw that service, the spider implies that Edwards’s congregation benefits from spiders’ existence, undermining the idea that spiders are solely loathsome.

  3. What does the spider’s tone reveal about its character and the chapter’s message?
    The spider’s tone is formal, indignant, and sarcastic (“Good day sir”). It reveals a proud, articulate creature with a keen sense of justice. This tone reinforces the chapter’s message that even the smallest or most despised beings deserve a voice, and that historical narratives often silence these perspectives.

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