Among a string of
other questions in the final chapter of Book 3, Dickens addressed the future of
Gradgrind by pondering whether the man could envision his future, in which he
would be “making his facts and figures subservient to Faith, Hope, and Charity;
and no longer trying to grind that Heavenly trio in his dusty little mills?”
(286). As previously established, the facts were sowed in Book 1, the evil
stalks that grew from them were cut down and dealt with in Book 2, and now in
Book 3, Dickens indicates that Gradgrind picked up (“garnered”) the remnants of
that past life to try to make something good of them. His change of ways is
clear by the reversal of the deification of fact, to the deification of virtue.
The capitalization of Faith, Hope and Charity, and their characterization as
“Heavenly” makes these qualities seem god-like and powerful, whereas the
previously almighty Fact is diminished as “subservient,” and its
slave—factories—are described as nothing but “dusty little mills.” Like the
products of a harvest being collected to provide food and warmth for a family,
the evil occurrences that resulted from his philosophy of fact were collected,
recognized, and made the best of, to provide sustenance for the future goodness
Gradgrind would work to bring.
Additionally,
this final chapter of the book, in which the fates of each character are
revealed, is written largely through a series of questions. This furthers the
idea of “reaping” because it suggests that each of the characters have been
left in some predicament—and now they have control over their own lives as to what
will they do from there. Their futures are open-ended like questions,
suggesting that their destinies are in their own hands, just like the products
garnered by a harvest may be used for whatever purpose the harvester choses.
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ReplyDeleteYour overview of the three book titles were very interesting. But there is also another way of interpreting it. The sowing could be referring to Louisa's upbringing, for here is where the seed of separation is planted, as she goes to the circus and takes an interest in Sissy. In Book 2, "Reaping", it could be referring to her breakdown and the destruction of the factual morals inside her, for she stated that they were not true by saying that by following her father she had almost "crushed [her] better angel into a demon" (210). And an alternative look at Book 3, "Garnering", could signify Louisa's recomposing and transforming herself, for her father was trying to "encourage [her better nature] to develop itself by tenderness and consideration" (234), two things which are entirely against cold, hard facts.Just offering another point of view.
ReplyDelete-Jessica K.