“'I had proved my — my system to myself, and I have
rigidly administered it; and I must bear the responsibility of its failures. I
only entreat you to believe, my favourite child, that I have meant to do
right.' He said it earnestly, and to do him justice he had. In gauging
fathomless deeps with his little mean excise-rod, and in staggering over the
universe with his rusty stiff-legged compasses, he had meant to do great
things. Within the limits of his short tether he had tumbled about,
annihilating the flowers of existence with greater singleness of purpose than
many of the blatant personages whose company he kept” (216-217).
This is a really great quote Emma! The symbolism of "flowers of existence," referring to the existence of fancy within a society or group of people, suggests that -much like the chapter titles referring to agriculture- people cannot grow to become individuals without fancy and more care than facts. I also like how this quote shows Gradgind's inability to really deal with the world around him which is shown through the descriptive imagery of him being, "stiff-legged" and "staggering." He almost sounds either like a child or a drunk. Either would be incapable of dealing well with the world around them.
ReplyDeleteThanks but I didn't find it haha... I just posted all of my group's stuff from a word document we made. So I don't remember who the credit belongs to but, yeah I agree! (So the complement goes to either Brigdet, Ally or Zach!)
ReplyDelete