# Diamond Questions North Wind explained — At the Back of the North Wind

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

## What happens

Diamond's friend (the narrator) observes Diamond's reticence about his experiences with North Wind. One evening, Diamond climbs his beech tree to look at the moon, and Nanny teases him about dreams. Later, Diamond discovers a long, empty room under the roof where North Wind appears and dances with him. They fly to a meadow and a common, where Diamond anxiously questions whether she is real or a dream, and North Wind struggles to answer him satisfactorily.

## Themes in this chapter

### Dreams and Reality

Diamond's central concern in this chapter is whether North Wind is real or a dream, and North Wind's ambiguous answers blur the line between the two.

### Innocence and Wisdom

Diamond's innocent yet profound questioning about truth and loss reveals a wisdom beyond his years.

### Faith and Trust

Diamond's desire to trust in North Wind's reality, even when he cannot prove it, highlights the theme of faith.

## Character check-ins

### Diamond

Climbs the beech tree to look at the moon, dances with North Wind in the attic room, and anxiously questions whether she is real or a dream.

### North Wind

Appears in the attic room, dances with Diamond, carries him to a meadow and a common, and struggles to answer his questions about reality and dreams.

### Nanny

Teases Diamond about climbing the tree and about his belief in dreams, insisting that dreams aren't true.

## Key lines

> I can't get any sense into him. Do you really believe, Diamond, that there's a house in the moon, with a beautiful lady and a crooked old man and dusters in it?

Nanny expresses frustration, asking if Diamond truly believes in a literal moon house with a lady, an old man, and dusters.

_Nanny's skepticism contrasts with Diamond's imaginative faith._

> If there isn't, there's something better.

Diamond suggests that even if the literal story isn't true, there is a deeper, better truth behind it.

_Diamond's reply shows his philosophical approach to stories and reality._

> I'm either not a dream, or there's something better that's not a dream, Diamond.

North Wind tells Diamond that either she is real, or there is an even greater reality beyond dreams.

_North Wind's cryptic answer deepens the mystery of her nature._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/at_the_back_of_the_north_wind_se/chapters/xxxvi-diamond-questions-north-wind
- 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