# The Getting of Wisdom — Themes

> Major themes in The Getting of Wisdom by Henry Handel Richardson.

## Education and the Nature of Wisdom

The book contrasts formal schooling and the acquisition of facts with the deeper, often painful, personal wisdom gained through experience, social navigation, and self-discovery, as embodied by the epigraph from Proverbs.

### Where it surfaces

- [Epigraph](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_getting_of_wisdom_se/chapters/epigraph): The epigraph directly introduces the theme of wisdom as a foundational pursuit, setting the stage for the novel's exploration of knowledge and understanding.
- [The Getting of Wisdom](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_getting_of_wisdom_se/chapters/the-getting-of-wisdom): Laura's departure for school marks the beginning of her formal education, but also hints at the informal lessons she will learn about social hierarchies and self-perception.
- [IX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_getting_of_wisdom_se/chapters/ix): Laura grapples with the difference between superficial cleverness and genuine intellectual curiosity, spurred by Miss Hicks's critique of the 'woman's brain.'
- [XIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_getting_of_wisdom_se/chapters/xiii): Contrasts the official curriculum (expurgated classics, physiology of bones and arteries) with the illicit, warped 'education' the girls create for themselves.
- [Gut und böse und Lust und Leid und Ich und Du](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_getting_of_wisdom_se/chapters/xxiii): Laura's academic failure due to emotional distraction underscores the tension between formal education and personal wisdom.
- [XXIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_getting_of_wisdom_se/chapters/xxiv): Laura's fear of failing examinations and her mother's view of education as a tangible investment highlight the pressures and superficial measures of academic success.

## Social Conformity vs. Individuality

Laura struggles to fit into the rigid social hierarchy of the boarding school, learning to suppress her true feelings and opinions to gain acceptance, while her rebellious and imaginative nature constantly clashes with the demand to be like everyone else.

### Where it surfaces

- [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_getting_of_wisdom_se/chapters/iv): Laura struggles with the pressure to conform to the school's expectations, as seen in her desire to please Mrs. Gurley and her embarrassment over her mother's choice of hat.
- [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_getting_of_wisdom_se/chapters/v): Laura's unusual name and background mark her as an outsider, and she struggles to conform to the school's social norms.
- [VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_getting_of_wisdom_se/chapters/vii): Laura's impulsive and informal behavior clashes with the school's strict code of conduct, leading to public humiliation and her subsequent withdrawal.
- [IX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_getting_of_wisdom_se/chapters/ix): Laura's attempt to display her musical talent and her bold question about the painting violate unspoken school codes, leading to ostracism and reinforcing the pressure to conform.
- [The Purple Dress and the Price of Conformity](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_getting_of_wisdom_se/chapters/x): Laura learns that 'the unpardonable sin is to vary from the common mould,' and her mother's eccentric dressmaking becomes a source of intense social shame.
- [XII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_getting_of_wisdom_se/chapters/xii): Laura struggles to conform to her peers' expectations, feeling that her unique thoughts and empathy for Annie Johns set her apart and put her at risk of being ostracized.

## Class, Money, and Social Status

Laura's family's relative poverty and her mother's unconventional taste in dress mark her as an outsider among wealthier classmates, leading to constant mortification and the need for subterfuge to hide her financial limitations.

### Where it surfaces

- [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_getting_of_wisdom_se/chapters/iii): Laura's mother is perceived as 'stuck-up,' and Laura feels her clothes are not what they ought to be, highlighting class consciousness.
- [VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_getting_of_wisdom_se/chapters/vii): The chapter highlights class distinctions among the students, from the daughters of poor ministers to wealthy heiresses, and Laura's sense of inferiority.
- [The Purple Dress and the Price of Conformity](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_getting_of_wisdom_se/chapters/x): Laura's poverty and small allowance force her into 'countless small subterfuges,' while Tilly's wealth highlights the class divide.
- [XI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_getting_of_wisdom_se/chapters/xi): Laura's fear of being exposed as the daughter of a working mother highlights the intense social stigma attached to trade and women's labor.
- [XII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_getting_of_wisdom_se/chapters/xii): Laura reflects on how her own experience with poverty allows her to understand Annie Johns' motive for stealing a tram-fare, contrasting with the wealthier girls who cannot comprehend such need.
- [XIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_getting_of_wisdom_se/chapters/xiv): The invitation to the 'big house' and the promenade on Collins Street reflect the social aspirations and class distinctions among the girls.

## Truth, Lies, and Self-Deception

Laura's elaborate lies to gain status and her subsequent punishment form a central plot, exploring the social function of deception, the harsh judgment of peers, and the conflict between a romantic imagination and the rigid demand for factual truth.

### Where it surfaces

- [VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_getting_of_wisdom_se/chapters/vi): Laura admits to lying about finishing her lessons, and her mother warns that fibbing leads to worse things; Laura later denies the behavior.
- [VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_getting_of_wisdom_se/chapters/vii): Laura's initial confidence in her knowledge is shattered as she realizes her own ignorance, and she begins to hide her struggles to avoid further shame.
- [IX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_getting_of_wisdom_se/chapters/ix): Laura deceives herself about her own cleverness until Miss Hicks's words force a painful self-awareness; she also hides the full truth of her holiday from her mother.
- [The Purple Dress and the Price of Conformity](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_getting_of_wisdom_se/chapters/x): Laura lies about her dress not arriving and invents an 'old nurse' to explain her mother's poor darning, revealing her deep discomfort with her home life.
- [XI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_getting_of_wisdom_se/chapters/xi): Laura's secret about her mother's work and her subsequent lies to maintain social standing illustrate the theme of deception.
- [XII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_getting_of_wisdom_se/chapters/xii): Laura is honest with herself about her feelings during the expulsion, recognizing that she was more fascinated than horrified, which conflicts with the expected moral response.

## Female Adolescence and Sexuality

The novel depicts the girls' furtive and often comical attempts to understand sex and reproduction through Bible verses and whispered theories, highlighting the repressive Victorian-era education that leaves them ignorant and curious.

### Where it surfaces

- [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_getting_of_wisdom_se/chapters/i): Laura's pride in her curls and her fainting spell mark her as special and set her apart, reflecting early adolescent identity formation.
- [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_getting_of_wisdom_se/chapters/iii): Laura's embarrassment about her appearance and her sensitivity to being seen as childish or babyish reflect adolescent self-consciousness.
- [XIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_getting_of_wisdom_se/chapters/xiii): The chapter centers on the girls' clandestine pursuit of sexual knowledge through Bible study, their distorted views of men and women, and Laura's awakening curiosity.
- [XIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_getting_of_wisdom_se/chapters/xiv): Laura's anxiety about attracting Bob and her lack of understanding of romantic expectations highlight her adolescent naivety.
- [XV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_getting_of_wisdom_se/chapters/xv): Laura's confusion and failure in the 'elementary science' of attracting boys contrasts with her peers' expertise, highlighting the pressures of adolescent sexuality and social performance.
- [XVIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_getting_of_wisdom_se/chapters/xviii): Laura's invented narrative of a 'frustrated attempt on her virtue' reflects her grappling with adolescent sexuality and the social pressures surrounding female purity, influenced by her reading of 'Pamela.'

## Friendship and the Desire for Belonging

Laura's intense longing for a true friend, her strategic cultivation of influential girls like M. P., and her eventual deep bond with Evelyn illustrate the crucial role of friendship in navigating the loneliness and cruelty of school life.

### Where it surfaces

- [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_getting_of_wisdom_se/chapters/v): Laura desperately seeks acceptance, first from Maria Morell's protection, then through tearful isolation when rejected.
- [VIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_getting_of_wisdom_se/chapters/viii): Laura's longing for connection is evident in her relief at returning to school, where she feels more at home.
- [XI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_getting_of_wisdom_se/chapters/xi): Laura's uneasy friendship with Lilith and her desperate need to fit in drive her actions and fears.
- [XII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_getting_of_wisdom_se/chapters/xii): Laura desperately wants to feel the same as her peers and be accepted, but her different perspective makes her fear being cast out like Annie.
- [XV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_getting_of_wisdom_se/chapters/xv): Laura seeks advice from Chinky and Maria, but their responses highlight her isolation; she observes her friends' social success with a mix of admiration and repulsion.
- [XVII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_getting_of_wisdom_se/chapters/xvii): Laura's lies are driven by her need for acceptance among her peers, while her interaction with Chinky reveals the strain on her friendships due to her deceit.

## Family and Maternal Expectations

Laura's relationship with her mother is fraught with tension, as Mother's ambitions for her daughter's academic success and her own unconventional tastes clash with Laura's struggles, creating guilt and a sense of inadequacy.

### Where it surfaces

- [The Getting of Wisdom](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_getting_of_wisdom_se/chapters/the-getting-of-wisdom): The farewell scene highlights the mother's hopes and anxieties for Laura's future, setting up the tension between family loyalty and personal growth.
- [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_getting_of_wisdom_se/chapters/i): Laura's attempt to please her mother through self-sacrifice is met with anger, highlighting the gap between Laura's intentions and her mother's expectations.
- [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_getting_of_wisdom_se/chapters/ii): Mother's anxiety and sternness toward Laura, her worry about managing her, and the tension between them highlight the theme of maternal expectations and family duty.
- [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_getting_of_wisdom_se/chapters/iv): Laura's mother's decisions about her clothing and upbringing clash with Laura's own desires and the school's standards, highlighting maternal influence and expectations.
- [VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_getting_of_wisdom_se/chapters/vi): Mother's letters impose strict moral and academic expectations on Laura, demanding she be a lady, work hard, and avoid vulgarity.
- [VIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_getting_of_wisdom_se/chapters/viii): Laura's visit to Godmother's house reveals a cold, argumentative family dynamic, contrasting with her own mother's expectations.

## Imagination vs. Harsh Reality

Laura's romantic and storytelling nature is repeatedly confronted by the mundane, often brutal realities of school life, from her disillusionment with realistic literature like Ibsen to the painful consequences of her fabricated tales.

### Where it surfaces

- [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_getting_of_wisdom_se/chapters/ii): Laura's imaginative farewells to the garden (playing Crusoe, Juliet) contrast with the harsh reality of leaving home and facing an uncertain school life.
- [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_getting_of_wisdom_se/chapters/iii): Laura's idealized daydreams of school life contrast sharply with the awkward, self-conscious reality of her arrival.
- [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_getting_of_wisdom_se/chapters/v): Laura fantasizes about violent revenge on her tormentors, contrasting with her actual helplessness.
- [VIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_getting_of_wisdom_se/chapters/viii): Laura's high expectations for the holiday are crushed by the reality of neglect, boredom, and bullying.
- [XVI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_getting_of_wisdom_se/chapters/xvi): Laura escapes into King Solomon's Mines and later Robby's travel tales, contrasting with the tense, frugal reality of the Shepherd home.
- [XVII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_getting_of_wisdom_se/chapters/xvii): Laura's imaginative romance clashes with the mundane reality of her visit, where she saw Mr. Shepherd as 'overworked, underfed' and felt no genuine affection.

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