This is one of the more interesting chapters in Wind in the Willows. Rat and Mole go looking for Otter’s lost son and encounter a God.
There’s a lot to think about in this chapter. Grahame is such an excellent writer and he rises to new highs in this chapter. This would be a very hard chapter to write and make it work–but he does. Here’s a couple things to think about:
Animals don’t know about God but they must have some sense of him on a deeper, instinctual level. If we take the Bible completely literally, there are animals in Heaven–not just on Earth. (Angels ride horses.) What would it be like for an animal to encounter God?
God also cares for the animals. When speaking to Jonah, he says:
…Nineveh has more than a hundred and twenty thousand people who cannot tell their right hand from their left, and many cattle as well. Should I not be concerned about that great city?
And:
Even the sparrow has found a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may have her young— a place near your altar, O LORD Almighty, my King and my God.
And:
Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them.
God has always cared about the animals and a lesser part of his plan in redeeming us is to redeem his creation. (As we go, so nature goes. When we fell, nature fell. You can see this in nature, it’s just like us, very beautiful and very ugly but never as beautiful or as ugly as humans. There is no Jesus of the animals. There is no Hilter of the animals.) So in the universe of Wind in Willows, Rat and Mole encounter God in a way that humans can’t. The mysterious Friend and Helper. He’s a secret to Rat and Mole because they shouldn’t know about him. They don’t need to.
Finally, it’s clear that Grahame understood longing for the divine. Humans are separated from God. It’s the worst sort of perversion imaginable. Worse than stealing a baby from its mother. We’re separated from the sole source of joy and life. And yet we go through life hardly ever noticing it. But sometimes we catch a sent, a sight, a sound that reminds us of our loss. And that’s what Rat feels:
I almost wish I had never heard it. For it has roused a longing in me that is pain, and nothing seems worth while but just to hear that sound once more and go on listening to it for ever.
There a lot more to think about in this chapter. What did you all think?
Okay , I loved this chapter ! I really like it that Mole and Ratty don’t even think twice … they just up and leave because they feel bad for Otter , out there all alone ! Another thing I enjoyed was when Ratty hears the song but Mole doesn’t . The song is so detialed , it has lyrics and everything! Oh , and did we know that Mole and Ratty are religous ? “Then the two animals , crouching to the earth , bowed their heads and did worship !” That was one of the best chapters yet ! It is getting better and better !
Wow, Levi, your post was pretty thoughtful. Excellent.
I’ve always loved this chapter, it’s tone and mystery, and have seen it quoted in various theological works which are quite serious and grown-up. And no wonder; Grahame wades pretty deep and tells us something wonderful, and does it within the confines of a story about animals and their adventures. Truly inspired. I won’t add to your insights, except to say his representation of diety is such a picture of Christ– the Pan being part beast and part human–and our Lord is God and flesh. When God visits a world he takes on it’s skin.
On another note, how touching is the story of the lost son! Is not Portly our own naughty Sammy-boy in our minds? And when Otter walks Rat out under the pretense of “stretching legs and getting air” only to confess his plans to watch for his son, Oh, I almost cried. Something about the brash Otter being heart-sick with worry killed me.
Why isn’t anyone commenting ? Come on people , we went to one chapter a week for ya’ll !
Jacque: Rest in the knowledge that you’re one of the truly committed.
Mom: Yep, it is interesting how Pan is half-man, half-beast. It can be viewed like Jesus, except that Jesus is all-man, all-God.
Portly is very much Sammy-boy.