45 pages • 1 hour read
John ChristopherThe White Mountains
Fiction | Novel | YA | Published in 1967A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Symbols & Motifs
Capping
Capping, or the surgical implantation of a mechanical Cap that is connected with a human subject’s brain, is a key method the Tripods use to exercise control over humanity. As such, Capping becomes a symbol of the methods by which totalitarian governments or other powerful organizations seek to control the very thoughts of their subjects. Capping generally takes place when an individual reaches about 14 years of age, which, in medieval times, marks the beginning of young adulthood; it is also the time at which the risk of rebellion against the Tripods would begin to rise.
Those who are successfully Capped come to view the Tripods as benevolent beings worthy of veneration, even in cases where the Tripods openly exploit those same individuals, as was the case for Eloise. Capping thus relates to Christopher’s exploration of Freedom Versus Security, with the procedure offering a certain stability to those who undergo it at the price of a loss of individuality, creativity, and critical thinking. Capping can be seen as a symbol of virtually all the techniques a dominant hegemonic force may use to ensure its continued domination, including subtle techniques to shape people’s very perceptions.
The White Mountains
Although they are never identified explicitly as such, from geographical context clues in the text, it becomes clear that the White Mountains are synonymous with the Alps, one of the largest and most famous mountain ranges in Europe. Within the novel, the White Mountains are home to a secret community of people who, like Will, seek to overthrow the Tripods. According to Ozymandias, the White Mountains were selected as an ideal location for this community due to the Tripods’ difficulty in navigating through the mountains’ steep, snowy terrain. The White Mountains thus come to symbolize freedom from the Tripods’ oppressive tyranny; as they near their destination, Will, Henry, and Beanpole take courage and comfort from the sight of the distant mountains, which remind them of their purpose.
Christopher’s decision to use the White Mountains as the title of the first volume in the trilogy highlights the significance of these natural landmarks as a guiding point of reference for Will. In the end, every choice he makes is motivated and clarified by his desire to reach the White Mountains, or, in other words, to seek and defend his freedom.
Watches
The motif of watches underscores The Wonder of Human Ingenuity. In the novel’s opening chapter, Will describes an antique wristwatch as his “father’s great treasure” (2). The watch itself is of a rare type and quality, unmatched in any nearby village or city. Apart from rare ceremonial occasions, the watch is kept in a locked drawer in his father’s desk. Will’s decision to take the watch out and wear it demonstrates the extent of his fascination with the seemingly mundane object. In fact, the watch provides a tangible link to the mysterious past, when human civilization flourished without the Tripods’ interference.
Although Will returns his father’s wristwatch to the locked drawer where it belongs, he retains a special interest in watches. Thus, when he stumbles across a watch and jewelry store in the ruins of Paris on his way to the White Mountains, he stops to pick out a watch to wear and carry with him. Notably, he refrains from pointing the store out to Henry and Beanpole, wanting to keep the special experience to himself. Later, Beanpole spots Will wearing the watch and makes an observation that Will missed: The watch is still running. As Beanpole observes at that time, “What craftsmen they were” (109), referring to those who built the watch.
Sometime later, when Will is riding a boat with Eloise, he accidentally drops the wristwatch into the water. However, at that time, he is not troubled by the loss of the watch since he is actively considering allowing himself to be Capped so that he can spend the rest of his life with Eloise and her family. Will’s feelings about the watch thus serve as a barometer of his feelings about the Tripods. The more he values the watch’s uniqueness and intricate artistry, the more strongly he feels that human society is worth restoring to its full glory through rebellion against the Tripods.
