This quote is highly relative to Hard Times because the way that the mind is formed is very reflective of the characters in the story. By examining several of the descriptions of the characters as they are introduced, we can see the ‘negative’ characters are described as people who have had their vessels filled rather than fires kindled. Gradgrind’s “head had scarcely warehouse-room for the facts stored inside” Bounderby’s “made of a coarse material…stretched to make so much of him” and this relates both to containers to be filled. Based off of my experiences teachers nowadays seem to be more willing to kindle fires than perceive students as fillable containers.
I agree with Andrew, the way the mind is formed is reflective of the characters. I think this quote emphasizes the fact that when you treat the mind like a vessel, it allows for very little personal growth in life. In the story this is shown through the character of Gradgrind, he is so set on the facts and overlooks like in life situations sometimes you need more than facts to answer a problem, you have to look within yourself. Gradgrind could not console his daughter Louisa because he has never learned the 'wisdom of the heart'. I think teachers today treat the mind like a fire rather than vessel.
This quote is highly relative to Hard Times because the way that the mind is formed is very reflective of the characters in the story. By examining several of the descriptions of the characters as they are introduced, we can see the ‘negative’ characters are described as people who have had their vessels filled rather than fires kindled. Gradgrind’s “head had scarcely warehouse-room for the facts stored inside” Bounderby’s “made of a coarse material…stretched to make so much of him” and this relates both to containers to be filled. Based off of my experiences teachers nowadays seem to be more willing to kindle fires than perceive students as fillable containers.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Andrew, the way the mind is formed is reflective of the characters. I think this quote emphasizes the fact that when you treat the mind like a vessel, it allows for very little personal growth in life. In the story this is shown through the character of Gradgrind, he is so set on the facts and overlooks like in life situations sometimes you need more than facts to answer a problem, you have to look within yourself. Gradgrind could not console his daughter Louisa because he has never learned the 'wisdom of the heart'. I think teachers today treat the mind like a fire rather than vessel.
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