# XXV: Diamond's Dream explained — At the Back of the North Wind

> Chapter companion for At the Back of the North Wind by George MacDonald.

## What happens

Diamond, overjoyed by his family's improved fortunes, chatters happily about nonsense and angels before falling asleep. He dreams of a fantastical landscape of roses and stars, where he encounters angelic beings who dig up stars, share them, and sometimes disappear through star-holes. Diamond learns about the care of stars and the mysterious 'girl-angels' who tend them, but he falls asleep before seeing them.

## Themes in this chapter

### Innocence and Wisdom

Diamond's innocent chatter about nonsense and angels reveals a deep, intuitive wisdom about joy and the nature of happiness.

### Dreams and Reality

The entire chapter is a dream that blurs the boundaries between reality and imagination, exploring profound truths through fantastical imagery.

### Home and Belonging

Diamond's joy stems from his family's security and home, and his dream reflects a sense of belonging in a cosmic, angelic community.

## Character check-ins

### Diamond

Diamond is exuberant about his family's good fortune, chattering about nonsense and angels before dreaming of a star-filled adventure.

### Father

Father is in bed, recovering, and Diamond imagines how he would have helped him if they were poor.

### Mother

Mother is proud of Diamond and joyful about the money, though her heart aches with pleasure.

### Nanny

Diamond wonders about Nanny's crossing and whether she will fight for it when she recovers.

### Mr. Raymond

Diamond wonders if Mr. Raymond would take him to see Nanny.

### North Wind

Diamond dreams he is waiting for North Wind in the old garden, but she does not come.

## Key lines

> I wonder what the angels do—when they’re extra happy, you know—when they’ve been driving cabs all day and taking home the money to their mothers. Do you think they ever sing nonsense, mother?

Diamond wonders if angels, like him, sing silly songs when they are very happy, especially after working hard to provide for their families.

_This reflects Diamond's innocent and imaginative view of angels as relatable beings._

> Nonsense is a very good thing, ain’t it, mother?—a little of it now and then; more of it for baby, and not so much for grown people like cabmen and their mothers? It’s like the pepper and salt that goes in the soup—that’s it—isn’t it, mother?

Diamond compares nonsense to seasoning in soup, suggesting it is enjoyable in small amounts, especially for children.

_This shows Diamond's playful yet thoughtful philosophy on joy and moderation._

> Every time he rose from looking through a star-hole, he felt as if his heart would break for joy; and he said that if he had not cried, he did not know what would have become of him.

Each time Diamond looked through a star-hole, he was overwhelmed with such intense joy that he felt he might burst if he didn't cry.

_This captures the ecstatic and emotional nature of Diamond's dream experience._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/at_the_back_of_the_north_wind_se/chapters/xxv-diamond-s-dream
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/at_the_back_of_the_north_wind_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/at_the_back_of_the_north_wind_se/chapters