“Some persons hold,” he pursued, still hesitating, “that there is a wisdom of the Head, and that there is a wisdom of the Heart. I have not supposed so; but, as I have said, I mistrust myself now.”
This quote is Dickens’ way of explaining to the reader, how each of his characters appears to stand for a particular way of life.
The idea of the wisdom of the heart is carried across to us, in characters such as Rachael. By this, I mean that her character, (not unlike that of Sissy’s) is extremely compassionate and caring for all the other characters, especially Stephen. This is Dickens’ way of providing us with a contrast character, which others can reflect off of. For example, in “Book The Third, chapter 1” Mr. Gradgrind and Sissy are totally contrasts of one another. This is clear to us, as it appears that Gradgrind is at a loss for words, whereas Sissy knows what Louisa wants to hear, and is prepared to say and do just that.
Another example of a character, which Dickens has used to show the conflict between the head and the heart, is that of Mr. Bounderby. In this novel, Bounderby is the villain. We know this, because of the way in which he treats Stephen Blackpool, (another character that Dickens has used to portray the wisdom of the heart. When Stephen dies, he begs Gradgrind to clear his name, which contradicts with Gradgrind’s logical thinking, simply because everyone thought Stephen to be guilty, and therefore, it would be going against what he felt to be right). Also, he marries Louisa without feeling any love for her whatsoever. Bounderby is used to represent the social type of gentlemen of the times. His actions appear to be remorseless, as he talks about his own achievements without feeling anything other then contempt.
Bounderby and Gradgrind appear to get along extremely well in the beginning of the novel, due to a similarity of beliefs. However, later on in the novel, when Gradgrind begins to understand the concept of the wisdom of the heart, the pair’s beliefs begin to contradict. The suggestion that Bounderby believes in the wisdom of the head, is clear right up until the end of the novel, when his mother returns, and tells the reader all about how Bounderby paid his mother to keep out of the way! A seemingly immoral thing to do! The discovery of his mother also shows us that Mrs. Sparsit is another character that believes in the wisdom of the head.
We know this, because of the way in which she treats Mrs. Pegler. “I have told you twenty times, coming along, that I will not leave you till I have handed you over to him myself.” This quote shows us that she is an extremely proud woman, and desperately seeks Bounderby’s approval in most things she does. As a result of this, she treats his mother like a trophy that she must present to Mr. Bounderby, and no one else may interfere. In other words, even though the way she is treating Mrs. Pegler is immoral, she does it because she is infatuated with Bounderby, and as a result, has his way of thinking and his same beliefs.
Therefore, in conclusion, it appears as though Dickens explores the conflict between “the wisdom of the heart and the wisdom of the head” by placing characters in his novel that believe in one or the other. For example, there’s a contrast between Mr. Bounderby and his mother, as they both believe in separate wisdoms. These types of contrasting characters are seen throughout the novel. The most obvious of which, would be that of Gradgrind and Sissy, as for the first few years of her life, (being risen in a circus family,) she was not taught that facts are more important then anything else. This founding belief she was taught by her father, is vital in understanding the wisdom of the heart, as it is especially emphasized when she’s around characters such as Gradgrind or Bounderby. Without characters such as Louisa and her estranged husband Bounderby, the difference between the two beliefs would never be highlighted.
All in all, I feel that Dickens has used his characters to explore the conflict between the wisdoms of the head and heart, as each of them represent a different way of thinking and of acting.