41 pages • 1 hour read
Charles SheldonIn His Steps
Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1896A 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
The Rectangle
The Rectangle is one of the central motifs and symbols in the novel, appearing throughout the narrative as a central hub for the Raymond congregation’s ministry in fulfilling the pledge. It is a locus of transformation; many central events proceed from the Rectangle, and many characters return there during major moments of grace and insight. The Rectangle is the first place made to be a point of conversion and is a symbol for the greater world as a whole: the struggle between light and darkness, between virtue and vice. In the end it proves to be something that is never completely conquered and yet is, at the same time, a place of miracles.
Right Use of Money
A prime tension in the narrative is the use and possession of money. The congregation of Raymond is considerably wealthy—some members even possess vast sums of money thanks to inheritances and business ventures—but they live in close proximity to the Rectangle, a center of poverty and misery. The group members who make the pledge, however, quickly realize that their money is a good thing not to be scorned; it is necessary to distribute and use with prudence and charity. They are to act as stewards—not owners—of the money, given charge of it for distribution. Virginia’s wealth saves the Daily News and provides the means to establish the institution at the Rectangle; in addition, the wealth of Bishop Hampton and Dr. Bruce allow them to purchase Chicago property to build the Settlement House. From start to finish, the right use of money is central to the movement’s success, and love of money for the wrong reasons—as in the case of Jasper Chase—leads to ruin.
Music
The first woman the narrative introduces in detail is Rachel Winslow, the singer for the Raymond church and a highly sought after talent for the local opera. At many of the novel’s major events, especially in the beginning stages of the pledge movement’s success, Rachel is there to sing and provide the music for the meeting. While the words of the songs that are chosen are always important to the particular moment, it is the act of singing and the presence of music that serves as a marker of transcendence. There are moments where the sound of music elevates the emotions and the receptivity of the audience, and others where music is a kind of tranquilizer, calming crowds that might otherwise become unruly.
