Importance of Home in the Wind in the Willows

WillowsTheres No Place Like Home An synopsis of Two Characters Journeys in The plait in the Willows As discussed in this course, incorrupt childrens literature often involves some kind of journey for a character, in which they temporarily leave shell, only to discover a self-truth and a virgin appreciation for that which they often took for granted. Kenneth Grahames The Wind in the Willows is no exception. The two animals that most notably go through a shift as a result of leaving home ar counterspy and toad frog. While their reasoning and experiences along the management differ, they both prove changed characters, and for the better. The Wind in the Willows begins with a busy seaw on the whole, caught in his spring-cleaning daze, and within the graduation exercise paragraph he has decided to leave the work behind as something up above was c eaching him imperiously (Classics of Childrens Literature, pg. 637). moles home is underground, and as soon as he breaks the surface , the nature close to him is described as very positive with words give care fair weather, warm, caress, and elated (pg. 637). He takes in his surroundings and is felicitous to be the only idle dog among all the busy citizens (pg. 637).He quick grapples across the river, something that hes never seen so unrivalledr, and makes friends with rat, a loyal and happy member of the River Bank. The experience on a boat is grand, and buttocks doesnt adjudge to say much to convince wall that venturing away was the beat out idea Absorbed in the new life he groyne was first appearance upon, intoxicated with the sparkle, the ripple, the scents and the sounds and the sunlight, he trailed a paw in the water and stargaze long waking dreams (pg. 639). skunk goes on to teach counterspy all the necessary animal etiquettes, different things about the inhabitants of the Wild Wood, and how to do river tasks, homogeneous rowing.Even though he fails in first attempts to fit in, Moles sp irits are substantially lifted by the comfort of his friends. Mole stays with Rat through the summer and continues learning and growing as a character. The bitstock goes to visit another friend, toad frog, who is all too eager to travel and go on a journey with his horse drawn carriage. The night before they are supposed to leave, Mole says that hell do whatever Rat wishings, but asks, Shall we run away to-morrow morning, quite early-very early- and go stern to our potful old hole on the river? (pg. 647). Here, he mentions home for the first time, and seems to fille it.However, Rat declines, which suggests that Mole has not learned all he inescapably to and is not effectuate to re spring up. The journey with toad comes to a quick end, and Mole and Rat go back to the river. However, Mole does something out of character when he decides to set out on his own to meet Badger, an important personage (pg. 650). Against Rats previous warnings, Mole goes into the Wild Wood and bec omes panicked of noises and unfamiliar sights. Rat quickly comes to his rescue and says that even toad wouldnt show his face here alone, which suggests that Mole has become braver.After meeting Badger, Mole and Rat decide to return back to the river and Mole is very excited, thirstily anticipating the moment when he would be at home again among the things he knew and liked (pg. 663). When they begin their journey back, Mole feels summoned like an electric dishonor and he realizes where he is. Now, with a rush of old memories, how clearly it stood up before himthe home had been happy with him, too, evidently and was missing him, and wanted him back (pg. 665). Mole wants to see his old home, but at first Rat doesnt think its a good idea and convinces Mole to move on. Emotion overcomes Mole, and he sobs.At this point, home is everything to him, and he finally does deserve to go back. Rat realizes that the trip back is very important to his friend, and they turn back to see Moles old dwelling place. They find it and begin fashioning a fire, welcome in some friends, and ultimately settle down to dinner. It is a splendid time, and Mole, upon passing to bed, realizes how much it all meant to him, and the special value of some such anchorage in ones existencehowever he did not at all want to abandon the new life and its splendid spacesit called to him still, even down there, and he knew must return to the larger stage (pg. 671).It is in this moment that Mole appreciates his home, but realizes that he has changed for the better, and is ready to go back up and out to see what great, new experiences await him. Toad is not so easily moved by his home/away/home journey. Before he is introduced officially in the story, Rat says that Toad is always good-tempered, always blithesome to see you, always sorry when you go, and goes on to add perhaps hes not very cleverit may be that he is both boastful and futile (pg. 644-645). There are many instances when Toad is a b it too proud, whether it be talking about his theatre of operations or his heroic deeds at the end of the story.The fact that Toad is wealthy seems to go along with him world obsessed with the latest craze, as he can afford to indulge in them. However, because of his boastful berth and unawareness of consequences, it seems fitting that when he becomes infatuated with cars and ride, he never sincerely succeeds at mastering it. Toad is more than happy to leave his hunky-dory estate for the open road (pg. 646). Travel and the like excite him, and it seems that he takes his home very much for granted at this point. Later on in the story, his friends, in hopes that he qualification be cured of his poop-poop daze, expect him under house arrest.This sheds a negative light on his home, making it a prison from which he escapes. Toads version of independence is finding a new car, dressing the part and driving like a maniac. He even steals several cars (stooping to a new low) and cras hes them. Toads freedom, his escape, is reckless and irresponsible and therefore it is essential that he come to a resolution to change. When Toad is finally placed in jail, he begins to reflect on his mistakes, calling himself a stupid animal (pg. 684). He even thinks about Toad Hall and his friends and there seems to be a light at the end of the tunnel the cure was almost nail down (pg. 85).Not quite. Toad lucks out quite a few times, and several spate take pity on him-the jailers daughter, the engine driver, the driving couple-even though he doesnt really deserve it. Grahame uses these people to propel the reader that Toad isnt all-bad, hes just going through some kind of crisis. He even says that its when hes at Toad Hall with his friends that hes at his best (pg. 686). It is also interesting that as soon as Toad starts to think about how clever and amazing his actions are, karma finds him and he is once again running away from a pursuit.He is much like a child, throwing tant rums and being stubborn. When Toad ends up in the woods, he is finally finding his way back, feeling free in the wilderness. After being rescued from the river by Rat, Toad is excited to reveal all his adventures and cleverness. He even pledges to elapse a quiet, steady, respectable lifejust as he used to in the good old days, before he got restless (pg. 710). This proud moment is vomit on hold when he learns that Toad Hall has been seized. Suddenly, when he realizes his home is in danger, a fire is lit inside Toad, and he is ready to fight for it.Toad seems to have come to a breaking point, and the fact that he has to win his home back makes the change in him more obvious. Although Toad, aft(prenominal) the battle, still wants praise and to give speeches and sing songs (on his behalf), there is finally a complete turn around. Toad has a few last conceited moments, but it is only between him and his home. He sings to a room with renounce chairs, which shows just how important th e home was to his transformation. It was the last thing that would see him in his old ways, and the thing in which he would build a new life and character.At earlier instances, the reader may not be positive(p) of Toads change, but Grahame assures us saying, He was indeed an modify Toad (pg. 724). Both of these animal characters in The Wind in the Willows have human qualities of wanting something more, something new to spark interest and passion. Grahame, through Mole and Toad, has shown the benefits of leaving home at some point so that it might be better appreciated upon return. Change is necessary to both these characters, and results in them both being much happier and satisfied with their lives.