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Motifs are recurring structures, contrasts, or literary devices that can help to develop and inform the text’s major themes.
The Wind in the Willows
Called “osiers” in the novel, weeping willows line the banks of the river where the characters live and adventure. In all seasons, the wind blowing through the willows reminds the characters of the natural forces around them that are neither benevolent nor malevolent. These forces could bring a great migration or a sudden storm. They might inspire an adventure through the meadow or along the river. Or they might lull a character into an obsession or an enchantment from which he will need to be rescued. The ineffable nature of the sound is one of its charms. Even when the characters retire to the comfort and security of their homes, they continue to be aware of nature’s presence just outside their doors. It offers danger, majestic beauty, and adventure, which serve as treasured memories when the characters are alone or confined to their homes.
Social Bonding Through Food
From the very first chapter when the Mole and the Water Rat share a hearty picnic by the banks of the river to the last chapter when the Toad is forced to throw a banquet in celebration of his triumphant return to the manor, the characters enjoy meals in one another’s company. Eating together brings characters closer, builds their friendships, and allows them to be gracious hosts. The characters do not dine alone. They enjoy the shared experience of the meals, where conversation and camaraderie are as much a part of the experience as the food. The food is generally simple, consisting mostly of bread, butter, and ham as well as homemade preserves and beer. But it’s always plentiful. These meals act as rewards for the characters’ triumphs over adversities as well as celebrations of their friendship.
The Toad’s Bragging
The Toad is the least accomplished and respectable of the novel’s characters. His manor is his only source of true pride to himself and the neighborhood. But his lack of self-awareness makes him snobby about his possessions, his bravery, and his intelligence, despite the fact that he behaves like a thankless, cowardly fool. He has inherited his possessions rather than earning them, and he destroys them quickly, proving himself inept at every skill from sailing to driving. When the Toad is confronted with any real danger, he runs away or insults people who help him. Immediately afterward, he sings his own praises for being smart enough to escape danger, when all he did was display his cowardice.
The Toad’s bragging not only reveals his true character, but it also highlights the good qualities of the Water Rat, the Badger, and the Mole. The Water Rat is far more skillful, the Badger is much stronger, and the Mole is far braver and more intelligent. None of them compose songs or speeches about their heroic deeds because they are motivated by helping their community, unlike the Toad who wants bragging rights and praise. Inevitably, such braggadocio leads the Toad to trouble, a pattern that emerges as a running joke throughout the novel. Whenever the Toad starts to think highly of himself, suspense builds as the reader awaits his certain downfall.
