Rebellion and Authority

Where it surfaces

• William Goes to the Pictures

  William's actions, such as delivering false messages and experimenting with paint removal, defy parental expectations and authority.

• III: William Below Stairs

  William rebels against school, family, and the kitchen staff, asserting his independence through mischief and defiance.

• IV: The Fall of the Idol

  William defies social norms and school rules by stealing and breaking into a house to impress his teacher.

• The Show

  The Outlaws operate in secrecy to avoid parental interference, holding the show on a Sunday to exploit the Sunday School schedule.

• A Question of Grammar

  William defies his parents and the cook, leading a siege and party.

• William Joins the Band of Hope

  William and the Outlaws are forced into a repressive, adult-controlled environment, reacting with silent defiance and bitterness.

• VIII: The Outlaws

  William rebels against his mother's request by kidnapping the baby, asserting his own outlaw code over adult expectations.

• William and White Satin

  William's resistance to wearing white satin and his attempts to escape the wedding illustrate his rebellion against parental and societal authority.

• William's New Year's Day

  William rebels against the constraints of politeness and fights with a loutish boy, while also defying his family's expectations.

• The Best Laid Plans

  William defies his parents by keeping rats and causing chaos in church and at home.

• I

  William rebels against adult expectations by faking illness and manipulating Mr. French for personal gain.

• II

  William defies church decorum and family expectations by training a rat during the service.

• Jumble

  William defies his family's orders to take Jumble to the police station, asserting his own will against parental authority.