49 pages • 1 hour read
At the Back of the North Wind
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Symbols & Motifs
Nature
At the Back of the North Wind mostly takes place in the city of London, which—while not described in detail—is dirty, muddy, and bad-smelling. The unpleasant surroundings of the city sharply contrast with descriptions of nature, which Diamond observes with a sense of wonder. The earliest example of this comes when Diamond, having just experienced his first night with the North Wind, notices a primrose growing in the hollow of a tree. As he studies it, it occurs to him that “it was saying its prayers, and he ought not to be staring at it so” (15). Diamond establishes a connection between nature and tranquility—a connection that continues throughout the novel.
By contrast, Diamond’s struggles intensify in relation to proximity to the city. The family’s move to the city is difficult and causes lasting problems, ranging from illness to impoverishment to neighbors that disrupt their peace. However, nature imagery continues to appear in the short stories and poems that Diamond reads, which coincide with positive occurrences in Diamond’s life. For example, reading “Little Boy Blue,” which tells of a little boy’s journey through distant, uninhabited lands, is linked with Diamond building a friendship with Mr. Raymond. Similarly, Mr. Raymond’s story “Little Daylight,” which mostly takes place in an enchanted forest, appears during Nanny’s recovery. These examples further reinforce the idea that nature is linked to peace and happiness.
The end of the novel includes two different returns to nature. The first is the whole family’s move to the countryside after Mr. Raymond hires Diamond’s father. They move fully out of the city for the first time, and Diamond enjoys freedoms he previously lived without—he spends much of his time sitting in nature, either in tall grass or in trees to watch the sky. The second return to nature is more metaphorical and occurs when Diamond returns to the back of the north wind. The back of the north wind is a lush country filled with gentle water and animals. When Diamond passes away, he leaves even the slightest remnant of civilization behind and goes to this place of absolute peace.
Dreams
There are two categories of dreams in At the Back of the North Wind. The first are Diamond’s visions, which include the North Wind. These experiences fall into a liminal category between life and death. Every time the North Wind visits, Diamond questions whether her visit truly happened. After he visits the country at her back, the reader learns that Diamond spent a week in a coma, suggesting that his experience with the North Wind relate to illness. Although they are pleasant and help teach him lessons, these visions are harbingers, foreshadowing Diamond’s descent into sickness.
The other category of dreams in the novel are confirmed dreams, of which there are several. One is Diamond’s experience with the angel boys. He plays games with the boys and watches them dig stars out of the earth, sometimes leaping into the holes. A second dream is Nanny’s dream as she is recovering from fever in the Children’s Hospital, when she dreams that she walks into the moon and releases the bees that belong to the woman there. These confirmed dreams do much to distinguish Diamond from other children his age. Diamond, following his experiences with the North Wind, considers all dreams to be true. Others, like Nanny, believe that they are just dreams, arguing, “Dreams ain’t true” (207). This only adds to Diamond’s innocence; he does not grow up to believe his dreams to be anything but reality. Dreams serve as an escape for the characters, and it is notable that Nanny—who survives the book—disregards her dreams while Diamond, who is carried away from life by a figment of his mind, clings to them.
Money
Money and social status are recurring motifs throughout At the Back of the North Wind. The novel introduces money as a problem in the world at the same time it introduces Diamond and his family. Although they have a steady source of income, they must sleep above the stables. Diamond’s mother must save up money to afford new shoes for him each season. When Diamond’s father loses his job, the family falls into a state of distress—particularly Diamond’s mother. She worries about their ability to purchase food until her husband secures a horse and cab.
The horse and cab enable further financial investment. Diamond’s father makes a living and teaches Diamond how to drive as well. This lesson leads to Diamond’s eventual independence, as when his father falls ill Diamond can step up and take over the business. When he returns home with his first day of income, it is not the amount of money that is so moving—it is what the money represents. Diamond successfully supports his loved ones by exercising a skill, ensuring their well-being while simultaneously taking a step towards adulthood. Diamond’s maturity is linked to making an income, and it is only when his family moves out to the country that he can regress back into childhood once again.
Money also creates relationships between characters, though the novel implies that the relationships established through money become much stronger through continued interactions. After Diamond first meets Nanny, he gives her a penny for doing a good job sweeping. This begins a habit of him giving her money until his family welcomes her into their home, teaching her skills and allowing her to take care of their children. Diamond’s relationship with Mr. Raymond begins with Mr. Raymond offering Diamond a coin and a promise. When Diamond turns to him for help and fulfills his end of the bargain, the two bonded beyond this financial relationship. MacDonald demonstrates both the importance of money and the fact that the most important thing is the person behind it.
Angels
While religion does not play an explicit role in At the Back of the North Wind, there are multiple references to God and a significant number of references to angels. Angels are, in the context of this book, most often thought to be winged people—usually young children. However, in a vision sent to him from the North Wind, Diamond learns that Ruby claims to be an angel horse, and the novel frames Diamond himself in cherubic terms.
The first time the novel introduces the idea of angels is in reference to Diamond, when he is brushing Old Diamond. The narrator also describes him as an angel on the night he helps the neighboring cabman: “The little boy was just as much one of God's messengers as if he had been an angel with a flaming sword, going out to fight the devil” (97). Following his nighttime visit, the cabman thinks of Diamond as an angel, and he gains the nickname “God’s baby.” Thus, Diamond resembles angels in his innocence, good nature, and kindness. Following her visit to the back of the north wind, Diamond views Nanny in a similar way, stating “She looks too like an angel. Angels don’t fight” (163).
The fact that the novel’s angelic characters are mostly children is significant. In one of Diamond’s dreams, he meets winged little boys who play with him and dig up stars. When one of these angels leaps through a hole and vanishes, the leader of the boys comforts Diamond, who worries about the boy’s wings: “He’s lost them by this time. They all do that go that way. You haven’t got any, you see” (140). Diamond is confused by this, but the implication is that Diamond is an angel who leapt down to earth. This directly addresses Victorian beliefs about the inherent goodness of children, creating an imagery in which the children of the novel are simply earthly angels.
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By George MacDonald
