Should you go out and hang out? The sadness brought by the novel "The Wind in the Willows"

When writing an English-language feature, the work selected was The Wind in the Willows, published in 1908 by the British writer Kenneth Graham.

There are several animation adaptations of the work, including the psychedelic rock band Pink Floyd's 1968 album "The Piper at the Gates of Dawn" (The Piper at the Gates of Dawn), whose title is from "The Wind in the Willows".

Although it is advertised as children's literature, but after reading it, I found that many plots are not only suitable for children, but also describe the mood of adults. The one that strikes me the most is the inner conflict in the chapter "Wayfarers All".

According to the scholar Rebecca J. Lukens, in the analysis of literary elements, it is classified as person against person conflict.

The theme song for the 1984 animated version of Wayfarers All

Water Rat, one of the protagonists, saw that winter was coming and the sparrows were going to fly to the south for the winter, so he asked them if they could not leave for a year? But animals still migrate south.

A few swallows murmured dreamily, "Yeah, the South is calling us. Oh, the songs of the South, the colors of the South, and the warm weather of the South, it's all in our hearts." They completely forgot about the river mouse.

The familiar streets have become deserted, and the animals are either migrating or preparing for winter. The Rat met the Water Rat, who was passing by, and the Sea Rat told him the story of what he saw and heard in various parts of the world, all kinds of ports, and the story of meeting on the boat.

"O sun-drenched coast, where villas gleam with olive groves."

"Although there is no land to see for years, there will often be a lack of water and food. However, your heart is connected with the sea, and you will always miss everything in the sea."

"I've never been stuck with a boat all my life. Being on a boat all the time can get people's minds blocked."

The Sea Rat encourages the Water Rat to venture out too. Sea Rat said:

"Never. The kind of life you (the Rat) describes doesn't suit me at all. I trade on the coast and rarely leave the land. What attracts me is the happy hours ashore, like any sailing."

After talking for a few hours, the sea rat said he was going to his next destination.

"Time is gone, take a bold risk! Heed the call of the South and go! You only have to close the door and you have taken the first step, which means you are on your way to a new life! It's been a long time. Afterwards, when all the performances are over, you can come back here if you want, go back to the river, and tell all kinds of adventure stories with your friends with all the memories in your head.”

Follow the sea mice through the bays, adventure in the vast sea, passing sea water, sandbars, river bends, and river bend towns.

The River Rat was in a sad mood, and being encouraged by the Sea Rat, the River Rat picked up the backpack in a trance and wanted to run out. Finally, he was stopped by his friend Mole, and his emotions broke.

Take a break, the Mole said, "Write some poetry, it will make you feel better."

Professors have always emphasized that personal opinions and feelings are not important in research unless you can turn it into a theoretical analysis. This is also the reason why "The Wind in the Willows" has a lot of pastoral descriptions, but I hardly mention it. Because reading it is often a feeling, I have a good understanding of the author's artistic conception, but it is better to focus on the theme of the story and the theory of characters when doing special topics. I have not yet been able to "appreciate" and appreciate the rural scenery. In the special topic, I mainly discuss how such a process can cause inner conflict.

The same is true for the passages quoted in this article. Both the original text and the Chinese translation have long and splendid overseas descriptions. In this process, readers need to read the text by themselves, and then they will gradually understand the state of mind of the river rat (after all, it is children's literature, and each chapter in this book is of moderate length). When confused, he will be attracted by the gorgeous story told by the sea rat again.

This is the least like children's literature in the whole book, deeply expressing people's struggles and dissatisfaction with the status quo.

From an optimistic point of view, after taking a break and cherishing the friends around you, you can calm down a lot, which makes people feel warm.

From another point of view, many times we are puzzled by the status quo, but it is difficult to take a step to make a huge change.

The story the sea rat told certainly revealed his idea that life at sea was free. Overseas has unlimited fantasies, not just going south. To make such a huge change is to encourage people to go out and make changes spontaneously. And the Rat, who lives comfortably in the country, why should he go out?

The plot is not deep enough to make the Rat really go out and come back, so this chapter is a record of the character's short-term melancholy.

Because half of the book is given to another protagonist: Mr. Toad's story of stealing a car, escaping prison, dealing with enemies, and returning home.

Who has never been confined to the current comfortable and numb environment, can seek food and clothing, but has no desire to leave the comfort zone. What's worse is that such people sometimes use the Internet from time to time, still holding on to their desire to go abroad to see and see. It's not to play around with flowers, but to actually live a life in a foreign country for a long or short time.

The Internet may bring knowledge of various languages, but that is not yet a real experience. Other people’s lives and experiences are hidden behind the numbers in videos, pictures, and words, and they are put on a layer of filters to create the illusion of yearning. No actual contact at all.

However, it is not too late to regret the actual visit. Touching the grass brings far more than the virtual world brings. What's more, only when you can get in touch with people in the real world can you know what's going on there. That is not what any netizen can define in labelled language, but his true feelings.

So in the book, the Rat finally chooses to be at ease, because he is surrounded by friends. But let the young self focus only on the people around you, while giving up on the larger world outside, would it be good?

Qi Qin: The outside world is very exciting, and the outside world is very helpless. When you feel helpless in the outside world, I am still here patiently waiting for you.

The author still suggests that people should make their own choices, especially when they are young and able, whether to stay where they are or go out, it's all up to you.

When the breeze of the willows comes, this feeling is different all over the world. If you want to change the world, you must start by changing yourself.

Thank you for reading, and welcome to visit My Blog when you have time