Foils-Tom and Dick Crick
Throughout Waterland the two Crick brothers emerge as two sides of the same coin. As the classic idea, brain vs. brawn, symbolizes a basic human struggle. This struggle could not have come at a more perfect time that during the period during the first and second world wars. During this time society as a whole had to decide a favorite in the battle. The foil of Tom against Dick accurately reflects a new pattern of thought and represents society in a microcosmic way.
Dick, first born to Helen, represents an older school of thought (or little thought) as well as represent physical prowess when compared to his younger brother. Swift seems to use Helen and her father to show how humans were believed to have come to be. In many religious belief systems only two people were thrust onto the earth, now whether Dick was supposed to represent some offspring of an Adam and Eve scenario is up to interpretation, but he does represent something that was to save the world- at least to his father. In his day, Ernest witness physical strength create dams, rivers, and sluices that helped created the empire he oversaw. Not only that, but the lacking of education that Dick received and the emphasis of ignorance could very well represent the faith that everyday citizens had in government, corporations, and religion.
As a younger sibling Tom Crick did not have time on his side to grow sizable, but instead used brain to solve problems he could not power through. Created from modernistic ideals such as forgiveness, feminism, and the pure love of the two spouses without a dowry, Tom stands for modern ideals that are constantly emerging during this time. The collective muscle of men won the war; however, the might of a battalion stood in awe against a single tank. The human mind and creative process in this time began to emerge as the forefront trait of mankind. Tom, in the novel, spends time reading books, noticing the changing aspects of society, and explores not only himself but that of Mary Metcalf.
When Ernest predicted that Dick would save the world, it appears that was talking about his other grandson, Tom. If it was not for Dick, Tom's secret would have been exposed, Mary would have been in far greater danger, and Tom might have strayed from his path of teaching.
Dick, first born to Helen, represents an older school of thought (or little thought) as well as represent physical prowess when compared to his younger brother. Swift seems to use Helen and her father to show how humans were believed to have come to be. In many religious belief systems only two people were thrust onto the earth, now whether Dick was supposed to represent some offspring of an Adam and Eve scenario is up to interpretation, but he does represent something that was to save the world- at least to his father. In his day, Ernest witness physical strength create dams, rivers, and sluices that helped created the empire he oversaw. Not only that, but the lacking of education that Dick received and the emphasis of ignorance could very well represent the faith that everyday citizens had in government, corporations, and religion.
As a younger sibling Tom Crick did not have time on his side to grow sizable, but instead used brain to solve problems he could not power through. Created from modernistic ideals such as forgiveness, feminism, and the pure love of the two spouses without a dowry, Tom stands for modern ideals that are constantly emerging during this time. The collective muscle of men won the war; however, the might of a battalion stood in awe against a single tank. The human mind and creative process in this time began to emerge as the forefront trait of mankind. Tom, in the novel, spends time reading books, noticing the changing aspects of society, and explores not only himself but that of Mary Metcalf.
When Ernest predicted that Dick would save the world, it appears that was talking about his other grandson, Tom. If it was not for Dick, Tom's secret would have been exposed, Mary would have been in far greater danger, and Tom might have strayed from his path of teaching.