The river symbolizes growing up, freedom, and independence. Early in the novel, it’s the catalyst for young Mole’s coming-of-age. Readers first meet Mole as Mole is spring-cleaning his underground home—but Mole suddenly throws down his cleaning supplies, leaves his home, and in his wanderings, encounters the river. Mole has never seen a river in his life, and it opens up a whole new world for him. Finding the river also introduces him to the riverbank-dwelling Rat (who quickly becomes his friend, mentor, and roommate), and their time on the river empowers him to learn new things and decide what he wants his life to look like. With Rat’s guidance, Mole learns to swim, row, and safely navigate the river. It proves a harsh teacher at times, as when Mole first snatches the oars from Rat so he can try rowing himself and ends up capsizing the boat. But in the end, Mole emerges from his first summer on the river a more mature, “emancipated” animal who is fulfilled by his new above-ground life. Life on the river provides him freedom and independence that, he suggests, he never could’ve enjoyed had he stayed in his underground home.
The river also helps Toad decide to essentially grow up, stop being conceited and selfish, and assume his role as the gentleman of Toad Hall. While Toad’s love of cars symbolizes his impulsiveness and immaturity, it’s an unexpected dip in the river that helps Toad decide that it’s time to change his ways and give up cars forever. In much the same way that falling into the river humbles Mole when Mole erroneously tries to row before he knows how, the river is a calming, humbling force that encourages Toad to be gracious and mature.
The River Quotes in The Wind in the Willows
“Believe me, my young friend, there is nothing—absolutely nothing—half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats. […]
“In or out of ‘em, it doesn’t matter. Nothing seems really to matter, that’s the charm of it. Whether you get away, or whether you don’t; whether you arrive at your destination or whether you reach somewhere else, or whether you never get anywhere at all, you’re always busy, and you never do anything in particular; and when you’ve done it there’s always something else to do, and you can do it if you like, but you’d much better not.”
“Ratty, my generous friend! I am very sorry indeed for my foolish and ungrateful conduct. My heart quite fails me when I think how I might have lost that beautiful luncheon basket. Indeed, I have been a complete ass, and I know it. Will you overlook it this once and forgive me, and let things go on as before?”
“That’s all right, bless you!”
Such a rich chapter it had been, when one came to look back on it all! With illustrations so numerous and so very highly coloured! The pageant of the river bank had marched steadily along, unfolding itself in scene-pictures that succeeded each other in stately procession. Purple loosestrife arrived early, shaking luxuriant tangled locks along the edge of the mirror whence its own face laughed back at it. Willow-herb, tender and wistful, like a pink sunset cloud, was not slow to follow. Comfrey, the purple hand-in-hand with the white, crept forth to take its place in the line […]
The River Symbol Timeline in The Wind in the Willows
