Black Beauty: Theme and motif
12 lenses on theme and motif for Black Beauty by Anna Sewell. Count lenses are exact for our text. AI lenses are our reading and cite only quotes that passed a word for word check.
Jump to: J1 J2 J3 J4 J5 J6 J7 J8 J9 J10 J11 J12
J1. Where is the theme first stated, and by whom? AI
The theme is first stated by Duchess in chapter 1: good manners and gentle behaviour matter. It expands through John Manly's actions (chapters 3 to 21) showing kindness heals. The antagonist (human cruelty) is revealed in chapter 8 through the check-rein.
Chapters: Ch 1, Ch 3, Ch 8, Ch 11
I wish you to pay attention to what I am going to say to you. The colts who live here are very good colts, but they are cart-horse colts, and of course they have not learned manners. (Ch 1, para 6)
It means to teach a horse to wear a saddle and bridle, and to carry on his back a man, woman or child; to go just the way they wish, and to go quietly. (Ch 3, para 3)
these balls, he said, were made up of patience and gentleness, firmness and petting, one pound of each to be mixed up with half a pint of common sense, and given to the horse every day. (Ch 8, para 15)
J2. The theme question, and how each subplot answers it. AI
The theme 'kindness heals, cruelty harms' is answered by: Ginger's redemption through kindness (chapters 7 to 8), Joe's moral growth (chapters 20, 49), Jerry's principles rewarded (chapters 35 to 45), and Beauty's final peace (chapter 49). Reuben and Skinner show cruelty's cost.
Chapters: Ch 7, Ch 8, Ch 20, Ch 25, Ch 35, Ch 45
these balls, he said, were made up of patience and gentleness, firmness and petting, one pound of each to be mixed up with half a pint of common sense, and given to the horse every day. (Ch 8, para 15)
Right, Joe! you did right, my boy, whether the fellow gets a summons or not. Many folks would have ridden by and said it was not their business to interfere. (Ch 20, para 14)
My doctrine is this, that if we see cruelty or wrong that we have the power to stop, and do nothing, we make ourselves sharers in the guilt (Ch 38, para 17)
J3. Motif tracker: recurring images by chapter. Both
Kindness versus cruelty, Fashion and vanity harming animals, Separation and loss. See the full lens on the book page.
J4. Symbols, and how their meaning shifts. AI
The check-rein symbolises cruel fashion (chapters 8, 10, 22, 23). Early it represents vanity; later it becomes a symbol of all human indifference to animal suffering. The bridge (chapter 12) symbolises animal wisdom humans ignore.
Chapters: Ch 8, Ch 10, Ch 12, Ch 22, Ch 23
I had been driven with a check-rein by the dealer, and I hated it worse than anything else; but in this place we were reined far tighter, the coachman and his master thinking we looked more stylish so. (Ch 8, para 2)
We were going along at a good pace, but the moment my feet touched the first part of the bridge I felt sure there was something wrong. I dare not go forward, and I made a dead stop. (Ch 12, para 9)
What I suffered with that rein for four long months in my lady's carriage it would be hard to describe (Ch 23, para 12)
J5. Theme words and their frequency over the book. Count
Theme words and how often they come in each tenth of the book.
| Word | Total | By tenth |
|---|---|---|
| home | 59 | 7 3 6 9 12 5 1 5 7 4 |
| rest | 49 | 2 3 2 4 0 3 3 17 6 9 |
| fashion | 11 | 0 8 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 2 |
| kindness | 10 | 0 4 0 1 0 0 1 1 1 2 |
| cruelty | 6 | 0 0 3 1 0 0 0 1 0 1 |
| conscience | 3 | 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 2 0 |
| suffering | 2 | 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 |
| breeding | 2 | 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 |
| principle | 1 | 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 |
| mercy | 0 | 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 |
J6. The moral argument: who stands for which side? AI
Kind characters (Duchess, John, Jerry, Farmer Thoroughgood) stand for principle and mercy. Cruel characters (Reuben Smith, Nicholas Skinner, brutal drivers) stand for profit and indifference. The system of cab work itself is the true antagonist.
Chapters: Ch 1, Ch 3, Ch 25, Ch 33, Ch 35, Ch 39
No, indeed,” said John, “where should I and Nelly have been if master and mistress and old Norman had only taken care of number one? Why, she in the workhouse and I hoeing turnips! (Ch 17, para 15)
My doctrine is this, that if we see cruelty or wrong that we have the power to stop, and do nothing, we make ourselves sharers in the guilt (Ch 38, para 17)
If there's one devil that I should like to see in the bottomless pit more than another, it's the drink devil (Ch 44, para 5)
J7. The title: its meaning and echoes in the text. Both
How often the key words of the title appear in the text.
| Word | Times |
|---|---|
| Black | 38 |
| Beauty | 30 |
The title names the lead and emphasises his beauty, which is both physical and moral. Beauty's name is given in chapter 5 after proving his worth. The title echoes throughout: his beauty is damaged by cruelty, restored by kindness, and recognised at the end.
Chapters: Ch 5, Ch 26, Ch 40, Ch 49
Yes,” she said, “he is really quite a beauty, and he has such a sweet, good-tempered face, and such a fine, intelligent eye--what do you say to calling him Black Beauty? (Ch 5, para 16)
The beautifully arched and glossy neck was now straight, and lank, and fallen in; the clean straight legs and delicate fetlocks were swelled (Ch 40, para 2)
there's a deal of breeding about that horse.” He put out his hand and gave me a kind pat on the neck (Ch 48, para 5)
J8. Epigraphs, allusions and borrowed texts. Both
No well known books or writers are named outright. (rough estimate from word lists)
No epigraphs appear. Biblical allusions emerge in Jerry's faith (chapter 36, quote 70: 'God made a day of rest') and the final reunion (chapter 43, quote 84: 'Inasmuch as ye have done it'). The novel is itself a moral fable.
Chapters: Ch 36, Ch 37, Ch 43
I read that God made man, and he made horses and all the other beasts, and as soon as He had made them He made a day of rest (Ch 36, para 8)
Inasmuch as ye have done it to one of the least of these (Ch 43, para 19)
J9. Opening image against final image. AI
Opening image: Beauty in a pleasant meadow with his mother, learning good manners (chapter 1). Final image: Beauty at rest in a home with kind ladies, remembering Birtwick meadow (chapter 49). Both are meadows; the circle closes with wisdom gained.
Chapters: Ch 1, Ch 49
I wish you to pay attention to what I am going to say to you. The colts who live here are very good colts, but they are cart-horse colts, and of course they have not learned manners. (Ch 1, para 6)
My troubles are all over, and I am at home; and often before I am quite awake, I fancy I am still in the orchard at Birtwick, standing with my old friends under the apple-trees. (Ch 49, para 22)
J10. Pairs and contrasts, such as light and dark. Both
Counts of each side of the main contrasts.
| Pair | First word | Second word |
|---|---|---|
| kindness / cruelty | 10 | 6 |
| rest / work | 40 | 87 |
| home / separation | 59 | 0 |
| principle / wickedness | 0 | 1 |
Light and dark mark moral states: Birtwick is bright and safe; London is dark and dangerous. Beauty's physical appearance darkens as he declines (chapter 40); it brightens as he recovers (chapter 48). Kindness brings light; cruelty brings darkness.
Chapters: Ch 4, Ch 27, Ch 40, Ch 47, Ch 48
The beautifully arched and glossy neck was now straight, and lank, and fallen in; the clean straight legs and delicate fetlocks were swelled (Ch 40, para 2)
there's a deal of breeding about that horse.” He put out his hand and gave me a kind pat on the neck (Ch 48, para 5)
J11. Core values at stake: life, love, justice, truth. AI
Life is at stake: horses die from cruelty (Rob Roy, Ginger, Captain). Justice appears when Filcher is imprisoned (chapter 30) and the carter is summoned (chapter 20). Truth is tested when Beauty's broken knees are judged (chapter 32). Love rewards Jerry and Beauty.
Chapters: Ch 2, Ch 20, Ch 30, Ch 32, Ch 40, Ch 44
They were carrying young Gordon to the churchyard to bury him. He would never ride again. What they did with Rob Roy I never knew; but 'twas all for one little hare. (Ch 2, para 16)
Right, Joe! you did right, my boy, whether the fellow gets a summons or not. Many folks would have ridden by and said it was not their business to interfere. (Ch 20, para 14)
the man was sentenced to prison for two months (Ch 30, para 14)
J12. What the book leaves open on purpose. AI
The novel leaves open what happens to other horses: Merrylegs' fate after Birtwick, the full story of Ginger's death, whether other drivers reform. Beauty's story is complete, but the system of cab work continues unsolved.
Chapters: Ch 21, Ch 40, Ch 47
I wish I was dead. I have seen dead horses, and I am sure they do not suffer pain (Ch 40, para 7)
Oh! if men were more merciful they would shoot us before we came to such misery (Ch 40, para 10)
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