Cue for Treason

In Cue for Treason, Trease explores the impact that social structures have on individuals. He does this by accurately portraying the hierarchical power structures of Elizabethan England, critiquing these and, by extension, the traditional social structures of his own era. Through the characters of Peter and Kit in particular he examines the extent to which society shapes a person and determines their path, and the ways in which they might escape set roles and assumptions, or even use them to their own ends.

Kit’s gender is an obstacle to her independence and choices: She runs away because she is being forced into marriage by her guardians, and this would result in all her property and her own person becoming Sir Philip’s possessions. She cannot travel or work in theater as a girl so she dresses as a man: The restriction of theater reflects the broader unfairness of society. Kit’s gender traps her: She is afraid of people finding out. Similarly, Mrs. Desmond loves theater and leads the troupe, but cannot act. However, Kit also uses her gender to her advantage, getting roles in the plays, and wearing women’s clothes when playing the role of a helpless woman helps her create a distraction in Chapter 12. Her adventures as a boy undermine the perceived difference in men and women. Peter defends her to Tom by pointing out that “[s]he proved herself on the trip up […] no boy could have done better” (184). Trease shows that though gendered social structures impact Kit’s life, they do not define her as a person, and she is able to forge her own path within the unusual society of the theater.

Trease draws parallels between Kit and the queen in order to explore and challenge gender norms, especially as the queen is a woman in a traditionally male role. In contrast to the banning of women from theater, Elizabeth exploits theatricality and heightened visibility to enhance her power. Both characters draw on male personae in order to succeed: Kit dresses up as a boy, and she quotes Elizabeth’s speech before the battle at Tilbury, in which the Queen famously said she had “the heart and stomach of a man” (339). Trease shows that women’s lives in early modern England were shaped by gendered structures, arising from preconceptions about women and men’s fundamental characters. Through Kit and Elizabeth, he challenges those preconceptions but shows that those who existed outside the typical image of womanhood, like Elizabeth, were seen as exceptions to the rule, rather than proving the rule wrong at the time.

Trease also explores the class-based social obstacles that Peter faces: he is from a lower class background than the antagonists, whose noble status gives them power over everyone under them. This puts him at a disadvantage: The man in yellow is automatically believed above Peter when he accuses him of stealing his script, and Sir Philip can have Peter arrested, imprisoned, and even tortured at will. Trease highlights this power imbalance as Peter and Kit race to complete their final mission, directly comparing the differing resources of the two groups. Trease again shows that these class prejudices do not define Peter’s character or his path: He is able to overcome them using his ingenuity, playacting skills, and physical ability and knowledge (such as navigating the mountain paths). Trease highlights his moral character: Although he is at risk himself, he doesn’t want to hurt his captor, and what motivates him through his grueling swim is the thought of how ordinary people will suffer if he fails.

Trease also shows how some social structures can be positive forces, especially those built on mutual respect and weak hierarchy. He highlights the importance of community through the unity of Peter’s local Cumberland neighborhood. Both Tam and Sir Joseph help him due to their sense of kinship. Everyone in the area comes together both for common causes, like demolishing Sir Philip’s wall, searching for Peter, and helping his family when Sir Philip attacks. This middle-class loyalty is in contrast to the immorality and treachery of the plotting noblemen: They are happy to throw the country into disarray for their own ends, invite in a foreign force, and use their power corruptly. Trease shows that social status does not reflect character.

Throughout the book, Trease shows that social structures will impact individuals, both positively and negatively. However, he highlights that this impact is not reductive and that people can defy social expectations. In general, his book promotes the message that equality and respect are the foundations of happy individuals and communities.