Essay: Smith

By Jaspreet Kaur 7S
While set in the 19th century, Smith, by Leon Garfield, is still a compelling book for modern readers. With a modern plot and meaningful themes implying the emergence of modern thought throughout the book, Garfield immerses the reader into an adventure of hide and seek with Smith, possessing the document, and the two men in brown. The plot itself is drawing in readers with its use of a prevailing and popular storyline. Garfield also compares how the modern day world has changed from the past through language, beliefs, education and transport. The great usage of themes shows how our modern thought is not always right and how things can be moderated for a better world to live in. Something that is greatly mentioned in the text is the rise of modern thought. The controversy with science and religion is portrayed in Smith along with the rise of the individual. The plot and genre contribute to the factor of how Leon Garfield has put in modernized writing with an earlier setting. He has used the genre of murder, mystery and adventure, something many people have been found to like, as the basis of Smith. This common genre is intriguing to modern audiences as many modern books show, using basically the same element to attract their audience. It is a highly effective genre and, like many other authors, Leon Garfield has chosen this plot to attract his readers. Garfield has chosen to draw in the reader early in the book with a murder scene before the reader. Then he creates a mystery around a stolen document with questions like; what does the document say? Who are the men in brown coats? And why are they after the document? This makes the reader feel the confusion the way Smith does and makes them want to read more. When Smith decides to learn how to read, Garfield starts the adventure of Smiths life on his conquest to learn how to read and to overcome the obstacles Garfield has given to Smith, a poor boy trying to tackle a prejudice world. With using this plot and genre, Leon Garfield has captured many readers who love to read a book that is intriguing and audacious. Additionally, Garfield takes on the controversy of science/law (cleverness) versus religion (heart). He does this through three main characters; Meg, Mr Mansfield and Mr Billing. Science states we derived from apes while religion believes God put us on earth. Mr Billing is blaming nature for what he does which is indirectly referring to that because we derived from apes, we have survived on our own like apes. He tells Smith to blame nature for what he does and that it is human nature to kill someone else to survive yourself. Another character is Mr Mansfield, who portrays the law. He blames Smith, for murdering Mr Field, on Mr Billings word and because Smith has no evidence that he didnt do the murder, he gets sent to jail. This shows how justice is blind. Even though Mr Mansfield might believe Smith, he cant say anything without proof. This states that even though it is obvious that the convicted is innocent, the law needs proof to set them free. This clashes with religion. Meg believes that a big heart is enough and cleverness will only lead you to death because you have too much knowledge. She quotes, A pennorth of hearts worth all your skinny clever heads!. She believes that a big heart is enough to survive and if you try to meddle with cleverness, like Smith did, you will end up either in jail or on your deathbed. This debate is something readers might like to read, with Garfield putting in both sides of the argument in his book.

In contrast, the rise of the individual is thoroughly expressed in the book by Leon Garfield as Smith decides to set out into the world and learn how to read. As Smith takes on the world, it is expressed methodically how modern thought is starting to take place in the 19th century. Smith wants to be more than just a poor boy who has to pick-pocket for a living. He wants to rise in the world, something that was not believed in that time period. Many people then believed that you could not escape your social status. But Garfield portrays the changing belief in social status as he makes Smith a great role model in the 19th century as people were changing their thinking and deciding they wanted to be more than what they were. Many people believe this is ironic, just like Smiths sisters; Miss Bridget and Miss Fanny. In the quote, Tell em a a certain persons well and prospering. Tell em es on is way up in the world, it states clearly that Smith wants to rise higher. This one quote is a strong appeal to the readers about how Smith, sticking to his belief is succeeding in his quest to rise higher. This compels to a number of readers who like to know how the modern society came to be through individuals taking risks. Furthermore, Garfield shows that beliefs started to change with the rise of the individual. As mentioned before, the things that are believed in the 19th century are different to the ones in the modern society. Things assumed then are completely different to things believed in modern times. For example, in the 19th century it is mainly believed that you stayed at one status for your life while the current society believes that if you work hard enough, you can rise higher than a lot of people. One of the biggest beliefs was that education was a luxury and was not worthy to lower status people. Smith, while trying to learn how to read, represents the opportunity of education to someone who is at a low status with a little bit of hard work. Not many people can read or write in the 19th century, as mentioned in the book while it is a necessity to read and write in the current society. Thus, Garfield shows the comparison with the 19th century to now and obtains the interest of readers who like to learn about another time period. Following on, Smith also tells the readers of what needs to be changed in the modern state of thinking. A lot of modern ways can be moderated with compassion and morality. As Garfield shows, the relationship between Mr Mansfield and Smith is strong but can be better if Mr Mansfield has more trust in Smith and does not send him to jail without a conviction. This uncovers that the law is not always right and can be wrong. Another good example is the relationship between Smith and Lord Tom. Lord Tom is only trying to protect Smith and wants the document so Smith wont get hurt. But Smith doesnt have enough trust in him to give it to Lord Tom. If Smith shows more loyalty towards him, Lord Tom might not have died in the end. This all comes to show that the way we think now can be wrong and with more compassion and morality, we could live in a better world. All these factors are things that Leon Garfield has used to compel readers to read his book even though it is set in the 19th century. The plot is intriguing and draws you further into the book. Garfield has used the emergence of modern thought effectively throughout his story and the themes are unique from others. The comparisons Garfield makes in the books tells the reader some extra information while it is still a narrative. While reading Smith, the detail of the information and time period shows that Leon Garfield has done great research. Consequently, even though the time period is the 19th century, Smith is still a captivating and stimulating book which makes the reader travel back in time with it.