Hard Hearted

This phrase of being "hard hearted" occurs several times within the first sixty or so pages of Susan Warner’s “ The Wide Wide World.” One passage that struck me in particular was found on page 71, when Ellen speaks with the gentleman she met at the party, who tells her, “We are all blind by nature, Ellen;-we are al hard-hearted; none of us can see him or love him unless eyes and touches our hearts; but he has promised to do this for those that seek him.” What’s most interesting is that even tough he says that she has a hard heart, it is clear that she does not, and is the main reason why this particular gentlemen, who noticed her heavy and tender heart stopped and tried to sooth her.
There were many instances in this particular chapter of hard heart, and broken hearted. I felt that there was a bit of tension, since those who seemed to accept “Him” seemed rather cold, especially with Ellen. During the first few pages Warner depicts the relationship between Ellen and her mother. During these passages I grew more and more uncomfortable as the scenes were unraveling between Ellen and her mother. Her mother seems fairly distant for a fair part of the first few chapters, especially when she discusses that she loves God more than everything else, even her child. It is clear that Ellen rejects this notion and once can only imagine that she is hurt by this honest and fairly puritan statement. I also thought it rather interesting that it seemed that Ellen, even if she’s a young child- understands human emotions more than her own mother, she demonstrates a great empathy towards others, especially her mother when she is taking care of her. I felt that the most tender moments in the narrative was when Ellen would take the time and talk about the food, and how much she relied on the food for a connection with either somewhat reserved and cold mother, “How careful Ellen was about that toast…and she was very careful to put in, just the quantity of milk and sugar that her mother liked…she had the greatest satisfaction in seeing that the little her mother could eat was prepared for her in the nicest possible manner; she knew her hands made it taste better.” (13) This stream of thought that Ellen is experiencing throughout the first part of the novel is very emotionally mature. This also shows how turned toward other Ellen is, she has a purity (one that is not affiliated with religion) that is very rare for someone her age. I found myself frustrated with the mother, even if she shows some moments of tenderness; she is overall a naive and cold woman. How she handles affection and proclaims it to her daughter seems fairly underdeveloped and I began to think that Ellen was the adult in such a relationship. After all she is the one taking care of the mother (the father remains fairly passive throughout the first few chapters) and is open with how much love and affection she gives her mother. It is clear at the end of the chapter with the gentleman, that Ellen is still hurt that her mother isn’t more open with affection and pleasure. And she simply rejects the notion of one loving Jesus more than her mother, or anyone close to her. She cannot understand how this is even humanly possible. Leaving her heart completely melted—