Rousing the Colonial People

The Heath Anthology of American Literature states that Mercy Otis Warren wrote The Group as “a brilliant defense of the patriot cause.” It is also revealed in the biographical note that some Tory supporters brutally beat her brother James in a Boston tavern, and afterwards, John Adams suggested that Mercy Otis Warren take the initiative to take his place amongst the patriots. From this information, Mercy Otis Warren must have held some serious anger and resentment towards the Tories and from the basic message of the play, it seems that she did. The a line in the poem which Warren used as a prologue for The Group demonstates this bitterness and determination which Warren contains: “Unplaced unpensioned, no man’s her or slave?/I will or perish in this generous cause.”
Warren attempts to rile the colonists through the connection she makes between the British and evil by means of the character Hateall. In the play, Warren names one of the Tory leaders Hateall and uses him to convey Britain’s malevolence. Warren shows Hateall’s wickedness by comparing him to Nero on page four, “I, Nero like, the capital in flames.” Through this figurative language, Warren demonstrates the evil/underhandedness of the Tories on American soil. By comparing himself to Nero, Hateall shows that he would use destruction in order to gain a profit off his own land. Warren would use the comparison in order to show the colonists exactly how corrupt the Tories are, which in turn would most likely stir the audience. Hateall also describes these people which sign this pact as his minions, which is a term that is sometimes associated with demons. Warren further elaborates on the loyalist evil when Hateall takes joy in gluttony and vengeance , two sins of the flesh. A statement which Hateall makes regarding the Patriots also shows a similarity to Satan, “had I power, as I have will/I’d send them murmuring to the shades of hell.” This line is relevant to Satan, because Satan also has the will to send people to Hell, but it is ultimately up to God to decide the fate of mankind. Obviously, the relationship of Hateall, who represents the Tories, and Satan, the evil villain of the Bible, would stir the colonists into taking action against the Tories. Ultimately, Warren uses the character Hateall and his terrible attitude to convey the ruthless, corrupt spirits of the Tories and stir the colonists to battle.