In the bustling yet impoverished slums of Liverpool, two individuals from vastly different worlds found themselves thrust into an unexpected companionship. Hopkins, a diminutive classics scholar, was far removed from his usual environments of academia and religious study. Meanwhile, Felix Randal, a towering blacksmith, lay confined to his sickbed, away from the forge where he had spent his life. These parallel dislocations became the unlikely catalyst for a friendship neither could have anticipated—a connection described as being "How far from then forethought of." The bond that formed was not only one of friendship but of profound spiritual significance. Hopkins, barely five feet tall and weighing scarcely a hundred pounds, took on the role of a spiritual guide, a father figure to the "child, Felix, poor Felix Randal." The strong blacksmith, once robust and formidable, was now fading in his illness, dwindling to death. It is in these moments of vulnerability and shared humanity that their relationship deepened, transcending their original worlds and creating a lasting legacy of connection and compassion.

The intertwined nature of spiritual sacraments and human transformation lies at the heart of the poem "Felix Randal." The poem explores the profound bond forged through the sacraments of Penance, Eucharist, and Extreme Unction, collectively known as the "Last Sacraments," as they accompany an individual's final moments on earth. These sacraments, rich in physical symbolism, serve as a conduit for spiritual renewal, suggesting a theme where the decay of the physical form fosters the blossoming of the spirit, cultivating holy friendships and spiritual vitality.

In the poem, the number three, representing the heavenly archetype, contrasts with the number four, symbolizing the earthly realm. This numerical symbolism resonates with the "fatal four disorders" referenced in the poem, aligning the sacraments with the dual nature of human existence. Though the physical body withers, the spirit—imbued with grace—finds rejuvenation. Notably, the poem resists any ethos that would deny the material world; rather, it embraces the sacraments' materiality as essential to transformation. Felix Randal, the protagonist, remains deeply enmeshed in the tangible world until his last breath.

Hopkins paints Felix Randal as a figure of robust vitality and innocence, even in his transgressions. Standing out among his peers, Felix exudes a palpable energy as he commands the massive gray Shire horses of the English midlands—creatures larger than their European and northern counterparts like the Clydesdales and Percherons. These horses, symbols of masculine energy and prowess, underscore Felix's physical dominance and vitality within a community of laborers. The imagery of these majestic horses clattering on cobblestone streets evokes the powerful presence of Felix, whose name, meaning "happy" or "fortunate," finds fulfillment in his ultimate spiritual awakening and self-mastery.