The main idea running through these letters is Frethorne's plea for his parents to rescue him from his miserable existence. He details the harsh conditions he endures, including:
* Hunger and lack of resources: He describes eating only once a day, often barely surviving on just bread and water. He pleads for his parents to send him food, clothes, and tools.
* Difficult labor: He talks about working long hours in the fields, suffering from exhaustion and lack of proper tools.
* Illness and hardship: Frethorne describes his own illness and the lack of medical care. He also mentions the prevalence of sickness and death among his fellow indentured servants.
* Desperation and despair: He expresses his deep loneliness, fear, and desire to return home. He begs his parents to help him, even offering to be a servant in England rather than remain in Virginia.
In short, Frethorne's letters are a poignant and heartbreaking appeal for help, a stark depiction of the harsh realities of indentured servitude in colonial America. They serve as a powerful reminder of the human cost of early colonization and the struggles faced by those who were forced to leave their homes in search of a better life.