A Little Princess · Chapter
The Diamond-Mines Again explained
Sara's eleventh birthday is celebrated at Miss Minchin's seminary with a grand party and the presentation of the Last Doll.
What happens
Sara's eleventh birthday is celebrated at Miss Minchin's seminary with a grand party and the presentation of the Last Doll. Miss Minchin gives a speech highlighting Sara's future fortune from the diamond mines, which provokes jealousy from Lavinia. After the party, Sara learns that her father has died and she is now penniless. Miss Minchin cruelly banishes her to the attic and strips her of her possessions. Becky, the scullery-maid, shows compassion for Sara and offers to serve her, but Miss Minchin refuses.
Themes in this chapter
Social Class and Inequality
The stark contrast between Sara's privileged birthday celebration and her subsequent fall to poverty highlights the rigid class distinctions of the Victorian era.
Kindness and Empathy
Sara's request to include Becky in her party and Becky's tearful offer to serve Sara after her downfall demonstrate compassion across class lines.
Injustice and Cruelty
Miss Minchin's harsh treatment of Sara after the loss of her fortune, including banishing her to the attic, exemplifies the cruelty of those in power.
Wealth and Poverty
The chapter contrasts Sara's lavish birthday gifts with her sudden destitution, underscoring the precariousness of wealth.
Characters to notice
- Sara Crewe
Celebrates her eleventh birthday with a party, receives the Last Doll, and later learns of her father's death and her sudden poverty.
- Miss Minchin
Leads the birthday celebration with a speech about Sara's fortune, but later reveals her cruelty by banishing Sara to the attic after Captain Crewe's death.
- Becky
Attends the birthday party at Sara's request, hides under a table during Miss Minchin's angry soliloquy, and tearfully offers to wait on Sara after her fall from fortune.
- Lavinia Herbert
Displays jealousy during the party, snorting at Miss Minchin's speech and making sarcastic remarks about Sara's wealth.
- Ermengarde St. John
Expresses dismay that Sara's birthday gift includes books, but joins in the excitement over the Last Doll.
- Lottie Legh
Wriggles with joy during the party, jumps up and down when the class thanks Sara, and is delighted by the Last Doll.
- Jessie
Whispers about the diamond mines during Miss Minchin's speech and giggles with Lavinia at Becky's awkwardness.
- Captain Crewe
Mentioned as Sara's father who sent the Last Doll and invested in diamond mines; his death leaves Sara penniless.
Key passages
“Suppose she understands human talk and feels proud of being admired.”
Sara imagines that the doll might be conscious and enjoy the admiration.
Sara's imaginative nature is highlighted as she supposes the doll's feelings.
“Could you suppose and pretend if you were a beggar and lived in a garret?”
Lavinia challenges whether Sara's imagination would survive poverty.
Foreshadows Sara's upcoming hardship and tests the power of her imagination.
“I just wanted to arst you: Miss Sara—she's been such a rich young lady, an' she's been waited on, 'and and foot; an' what will she do now, mum, without no maid?”
Becky pleads to be allowed to serve Sara after her fall from wealth.
Becky's empathy and loyalty contrast with Miss Minchin's cruelty.
