At the Back of the North Wind · Chapter
XV: The Mews explained
Diamond and his family move to a new home in the mews, a stark contrast to their previous idyllic surroundings.
What happens
Diamond and his family move to a new home in the mews, a stark contrast to their previous idyllic surroundings. Despite the dreary environment and his parents' distress, Diamond's cheerful and resilient spirit, shaped by his experiences at the back of the north wind, helps lift the family's mood.
Themes in this chapter
Home and Belonging
The chapter contrasts the loss of a beloved home with the effort to find comfort and belonging in a new, less pleasant environment.
Moral Growth Through Adversity
Diamond's ability to remain cheerful and supportive in the face of hardship demonstrates his moral growth and resilience.
Characters to notice
- Diamond
Diamond maintains his cheerful disposition despite the dismal new surroundings, drawing strength from his memories of the back of the north wind.
- Father
Father is initially troubled by the move but is cheered by Diamond's infectious laughter.
- Mother
Mother is somewhat miserable about the change but finds comfort in Diamond's positive attitude.
Key passages
“If my reader find it hard to believe that Diamond should be so good, he must remember that he had been to the back of the north wind.”
The narrator explains that Diamond's exceptional goodness is understandable because of his extraordinary journey to the back of the north wind.
This reinforces the idea that Diamond's experiences have fundamentally shaped his character.
“And instead of helping his mother to be miserable at the change, he began to find out all the advantages of the place; for every place has some advantages, and they are always better worth knowing than the disadvantages.”
Rather than joining his mother in despair, Diamond actively looked for the positive aspects of their new home, believing that finding advantages is more valuable than dwelling on drawbacks.
Highlights Diamond's proactive and optimistic approach to adversity.