Greene Ferne Farm · Chapter
III: The Nether Millstone explained
The chapter introduces Old Andrew Fisher, the wealthy but hard-hearted miller of Warren House, who sits in his beehive chair listening to the mill.
What happens
The chapter introduces Old Andrew Fisher, the wealthy but hard-hearted miller of Warren House, who sits in his beehive chair listening to the mill. It recounts his long life of ninety years, his violent past, the deaths of those he wronged, and his current isolation. Rev. Felix St. Bees visits to ask for May Fisher's hand and to warn Andrew about betting on Val Browne's horse, but Andrew flies into a rage and drives him away.
Themes in this chapter
Time and Mortality
Andrew's ninety-year reflection on the cycle of seasons, deaths of companions, and the relentless mill wheel symbolize the passage of time and the inevitability of death.
Avarice and Moral Decay
Andrew's hoarding of wealth, his violent past (blinding a carter, laming a ploughboy), and his harsh treatment of family and workers illustrate moral decay driven by greed.
Labour and Class Struggle
The mill's grinding of corn and the threshing-floor workers reflect the relentless toil of the lower classes, while Andrew's brutal dominance over them highlights class oppression.
Characters to notice
- Old Andrew Fisher
The aged, wealthy miller, hard-hearted and violent, reflecting on his past cruelties and losses.
- Rev. Felix St. Bees
Visits Andrew to ask for May's hand and warn him about betting on Val Browne's horse, but is violently rejected.
- May Fisher
Andrew's granddaughter, a gentle creature who dreads her grandfather but tries to love him; Felix seeks her hand.
- Jane
The snuff-taking housekeeper who announces Felix's arrival and is hated by May.
- Val Browne
Mentioned as the trainer backing a dark horse, with whom Andrew is heavily betting.
- Squire Thorpe
Mentioned as a deceased boon companion of Andrew's youth, now buried.
- Andrew Fisher (the younger)
Andrew's lawful son, who with his wife Alice was treated like dogs and died worn out.
Key passages
“Hard as his own nether millstone was the heart of Andrew Fisher.”
Andrew Fisher's heart was as unyielding and cruel as the millstone that grinds corn.
Central metaphor for Andrew's character, repeated throughout the chapter.
“The green buds of spring, the flowers of summer, the fruits of autumn, the dead leaves of winter—all the beauty and the glory of nigh on a century touched him not.”
After nearly a hundred years, the beauty of the changing seasons had no emotional effect on Andrew.
Emphasizes his emotional numbness and detachment from nature's cycles.
“Peggy was dead too—nut-brown Peggy, with her sloe-black eyes, retroussé nose, and mischievous mouth, who had reaped and gleaned and garnered her master’s evil passion among convolvulus and poppy.”
Peggy, a lively young woman with dark eyes and a playful mouth, had died after being exploited and discarded by Andrew.
Reveals Andrew's past exploitation of a servant girl, leading to her ruin and death.