Friends and Mentors in Wind Willows, Ch's Web, Bambi

Chapter 4 of Tending the Heart of Virtue: How Classic Stories Awaken a Child's Moral Imagination by Vigen Guroian.

The Wind in the Willows portrays great role models of friendship between Mole, Rat, Badger and Toad. The friends aren't afraid to try to "convert" Toad from his frivolous ways even when it might offend Toad - they care about him enough to risk that. As an aside, I think this is one of the most well-written books ever. Grahame's use of language is wonderful, and his subtle humor is fun. One example: Toad's misery when he lands in jail: "To his horror he recollected that he had left both coat and waistcoat behind him in his cell, and with them his pocket-book, money, keys, watch, matches, pencil-case - all that makes life worth living, all that distinguishes the many-pocketed animal, the lord of creation, from the inferior one-pocketed or no-pocketed productions that hop or trip about permissively, un-equipped for the real contest." The only portion of children's literature that I enjoy more is Captain Hook's dilemma about maintaining "good form" when he's contemplating his enemy, Peter Pan.

Since chapter 7 (The Piper at the Gates of Dawn) seems to be a sticking point for many Christians, I'll focus on Guroian's comments in that respect. While seeking a lost little otter friend, Rat and Mole have a spiritual experience and catch a glimpse of Pan, the mythological piper (also alluded to in Peter Pan), that awes and inspires them to worship. Guroian says that Pan, as 'Friend and Helper,' is appropriate for this story of friends helping each other. "While Grahame employs motifs and characters of pagan myth, the theme of spiritual love, which is the highest form of friendship, taps a deep and ancient tradition of spirituality. That tradition successfully relates friendship to agape and that love to the desire for God."

Charlotte's Web portrays a warm mentor relationship as Charlotte mothers and tries to save Wilbur. Her efforts for him help to elevate her own short fleeting life by giving her a noble purpose, so the relationship benefits both of them.

Bambi also illustrates a mentor - but a distant one in the regal Prince who teachs Bambi the strength and wisdom that come from being alone. "In Salten's tale, this is the central relationship and not Bambi's love for Faline, the young doe, as Disney portrays it." The deer's need for alone-ness can suggest our own source of strength and wisdom that can be found through quiet devotional times.

All of the entries in this series:
1. Awakening the Moral Imagination
2. On Becoming a Real Human Child: Pinocchio
3. Love and Immortality in The Velveteen Rabbit and The Little Mermaid
4. Friends and Mentors in The Wind in the Willows, Charlotte's Web, Bambi
5. Evil and Redemption in the Snow Queen and Narnia
6. Heroines of Faith and Courage (and Conclusion)