Blog Assignment 3; “The wind in the willows” by Kenneth Grahame

For those who have not yet read the book, perhaps I should fill you in on the story:
Mr Mole wakes up at spring (yes, he actually is a mole, with fur and all!) and as he walks along the river side, just between the water and the wild wood, you get introduced to his friends, one by one; Mr Rat, Otter, Mr Badger, Toad of Toad Hall, and the weasels and stouts. You get to follow the lives and adventures of these adorable creatures. There is no big drama, no murders and no explosions; it is just a story about life by the river.

The book illustrates a utopia of the countryside, of sunshine, happiness and good old friend, summer adventures and winter firesides, a world where you personal qualities and goodness dictates your wealth, and not your beauty or the money in bank account.
I think we need to find our inspiration to strive towards a utopia, both physical and inner, a strive that we in our cynical world have lost. Even if utopia is said to be impossible to reach, is not true happiness just as unreachable? And still we strive to find it.

This strive I think is shown very inspiring in the book through its characters. It has many characters and even if they ultimately are animals they are incredibly human, sometimes more human than most humans. It is the characteristics of these creatures that I think our world lacks, and that we need. Take Mr Toad for example, I think he is impossible to dislike. Mr Toad is such a simple and kind nature, full of childish enthusiasm for every thing he takes up, nothing is impossible in his eyes. He truly has drive, and motivates people. We need these Mr Toad characters, to motivate our world to do better and to be all it can be.

Another charming fellow is Mr Mole, after being asleep all winter long; he wakes up and gets outside, to see the world with completely new eyes. Everything is a miracle to him, flowers, birds singing or taking a boat ride down the river. That is how I think that we need to start to see our world, with new fresh eyes, and not take it for granted.

Mr Mole’s closest friend is the Rat, a fearless and kind natured; he truly cares about others and always helps whenever ha can. He is respected by the river folk for his knowledge of boating. We need to start respect knowledge more, not only the knowledge that gives a big pay check.

All of these fellows’ posses’ good qualities, that I think every human has bits and pieces of, and that is exactly what I think wee need now more than ever, more people with good qualities who cares a little. If everyone just cared a little, for each other, for the environment, for knowledge and with a bit of childish enthusiasm, perhaps we can reach our utopia.

The book I read: Kenneth Grahame, The wind in the willows, Methuen & co ltd, London, 1969