The Theme of The Friendly Persuasion

The theme of Friendly Persuasion is the testing of the convictions of those who hold Quaker beliefs. The characters in the Birdwell family are used to illustrate this theme. However Jess Birdwell’s convictions are tested the most and he is the main character in this theme of testing. Mr. Birdwell is used as an illustration in two different ways.
The first way the testing of Mr. Birdwell's convictions is seen is through racing. On “First Day”, Sunday, Mr. Birdwell usually races his neighbor to church. Racing is against Quaker beliefs. However despite this fact he usually races anyway, letting his wife think he can’t keep the horse from doing it, which is not true. On this particular Sunday his wife, Mrs. Birdwell, the minister at their Quaker church, makes a comment about discouraging the horse from racing. Here is the testing of his convictions. Does he listen to his wife and restrain himself from racing against his neighbor as his religious beliefs say he should or does he give in to temptation and race because it’s fun and it’s one of the few areas he leaves his strict ideals. In this case he gives in and races to church and loses. Not only does he race he also buys a much faster racing horse when he gets the chance.
The second way Mr. Birdwell is tested is through music. Despite the fact that Mrs. Birdwell objected at first the Birdwell family goes to the fair. It turns out that it is full of temptation just as Mrs. Birdwell feared it would be. At the fair the entire Birdwell family is tested. Josh’s friend Caleb gives in to temptation and wrestles and Josh is also tempted to fight when he is slapped. Little Jess helps the gamblers while his sister dances. However Mr. Birdwell is tempted the worst of all. As a Quaker music is entirely against his religion. Unfortunately at the fair a man tries to get him to buy an organ. Thus he is tempted to allow music into his own home. Here once again he faces a choice. Does he follow his religion and refuse buy a music making organ, or does he give in and buy it anyway because he likes it. In this case he once again gives in to the testing of his convictions and buys the organ, much to his wife’s displeasure.
So it is obvious that Jess Birdwell has had his convictions tested at least twice. Also it is obvious that at least twice he gave in to temptation. However it is not clear weather on not he thought this a bad thing. On the contrary, throughout the movie he seemed not only unperturbed by his lack of will against temptation but almost pleased with himself for loosening his wife’s strict strings.