On a Pincushion · Chapter
On a Pincushion explained
Three pins on a pincushion—a Brooch, a Shawl-pin, and a common Pin—complain about being left unused.
What happens
Three pins on a pincushion—a Brooch, a Shawl-pin, and a common Pin—complain about being left unused. The Shawl-pin laments its fallen status, the Brooch resents its neglect despite its colorful appearance, and the Pin feels overlooked despite its utility. They then decide to tell stories to drown out the chatter of Bracelets hanging nearby.
Themes in this chapter
Vanity and Self-Obsession
The Brooch and Shawl-pin obsess over their appearance and past glory, highlighting self-importance.
Social Class and Worth
The pins' complaints about being unused reflect a hierarchy of value based on material and function.
Characters to notice
- The Brooch
Complains about being left behind and tells a story to drown out the Bracelets' noise.
- The Old Bullfinch
Mentioned as the narrator of the story that the Brooch is about to tell.
Key passages
“I would sooner have been left uncut, unpolished, than brought to this.”
The Brooch wishes it had never been made into a brooch at all, rather than being neglected.
Expresses the Brooch's deep frustration with its current state of disuse.
“I am always needed, and so many pins are taken every day that it seems hard I should be left here for nearly a week, and all because I am run so far into the pincushion that nothing but my head can be seen.”
The Pin feels it is unfair that despite being essential, it is overlooked because it is buried in the cushion.
Highlights the Pin's sense of injustice and its practical but invisible nature.