HT: Analysis

Analysis #2:
           The subtitle of "The Reaping" of Book 2 refers to a verse from the Bible, reading, "For whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap." In the stages of the harvest, reaping is collecting the crops that have been planted. This concept can be seen in the development of Tom in Hard Times. Tom is constantly told as a child that facts are all that matters. His father always tells him what he needs to know and what he doesn't need to know. The "sowing" of these ideas leads to Tom being referred to as a "whelp" in chapter 3 (131). A whelp is a word for an immature child; this implies that Tom, because of his strict upbringing, is childish and incapable of supporting himself. The effects of this upbringing (the reaping) on Tom are shown in book 2 when he resorts to stealing money from Bounderby's bank. Although he doesn't verbally admit to it at first, the fact that he begins "tearing his hair" and "morosely crying" (186) after Louisa confronts him about it is enough to prove his guilt to the reader. Tom is "reaping" the "harvest" of his fact-based childhood; he can't support himself because strictly knowing facts doesn't help him in his job at the bank, so he must resort to stealing money in order to make a living.