Since fire has been used throughout the text to convey
certain themes (such as Louisa's inner conflicts and industrialism), I thought
the use of it to present a biblical allusion in book two was quite significant.
Chapter eight of book two begins with Harthouse's view of his relationship with
Louisa, which is followed by a brief paragraph about the Devil: "When he
is aweary of vice, and aweary of virtue, used up as to brimstone, and used up
as to bliss; then, whether he take to the serving out of red tape, or to the
kindling of red fire, he is the very Devil" (Dickens 175). Are the related
images of fire (i.e., brimstone and kindling) and the fire itself consistent
with how it has been previously represented? If not, how does this new image of
fire (presented as an allusion) reveal something new about Harthouse's
motivations or characteristics?
This is an interesting question. I think that the "kindling of red fire" by Harthouse connects to other fire metaphors throughout the book; they represent the igniting of individuality that the people of Coketown seem to lack. Since Harthouse has kept his individuality alive, Dickins portrays him as the "Devil" to show the dangers he poses to Louisa if she were to fall for him. In Louisa's situation with her family and societal expectations, Louisa is prevented from attaining emotions, and being with Harthouse would change her ways, leading her into a troubled situation later with her marriage to Bounderby. Yet she yearns for this freedom of individuality in her life as shown earlier in Book 2 when Dickens says, "It was not by any wonderful accident that he found her (...) where she would sit watching the fallen leaves of last year, as she had watched the falling ashes at home" (165-166). Here, Harthouse sees Louisa as alone and depressed; she longs for a life fueled by emotion, which is something that he has. He wants to help her even though it would put them both in danger; he is the temptation and sort of "Devil" in Louisa's life.
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