Seeds and Chains

Pause you who read this, and think for a moment of the long chain of iron or gold, of thorns or flowers, that would never have bound you, but for the formation of the first link on one memorable day.

This quote basically says that life is a long chain of links representing days. Iron and thorns represent bad memories and experiences. Gold and flowers are lovely. This analogy goes deeper to say that you are free of this chain and all of life’s experiences until you allow it to tether you and take over due to one experience or link. This experience starts the chain that determines the rest of your life and decides whether you will be draped with gold or entrapped with iron, garnished with flowers or eternally pierced by thorns. In Pip’s case he has become ashamed of Joe and has changed his mind about wanting to learn the blacksmith trade due to the remarks of Miss Havisham and Estella. In chapters 1-9 of the book, Pip had a very close developed relation ship with Joe. It wasn’t until his encounters with Miss Havisham and Estella in chapter 9 that changed his outlook through chapters 10-16 and forthly the rest of the book. He now finds Joe to be common and the trade to be shameful. This takes away Pip’s ignorant innocence that the reader come to love and strains the relationship between Pip and the reader.

When I was young, a seed started forming that soon sprouted into a flower that started and golden chain to the rest of my life. When I was only 2 years old I saw a documentary on gymnastics. Two year olds and documentaries don’t see to mix to well but this one seemed to have an impact. From that day forward I was a gymnast. When my parents realized that this was not just a phase they stuck me in a little kinder class and watched me learn discipline, patience, teamwork and dedication that came with me even when I left the gym and has made me the person I am today. Sometimes I wonder if my parents hadn’t happened to put on that show, if I hadn’t happened to be in the room, if I hadn’t happened to watch, I wonder if that first link would have formed, I wonder if I would be who I am today.

I must also add a hidden aspect to this particular quote. The two annalogies that Dickens deciceded to you happened to be that of chains and plants or seeds. Both, reaccuring motifs and symbols in the book.