The Wolves of Willoughby Chase

The journey from Mrs. Brisket’s school to London showcases the positive elements of The Dual Nature of Strangers. Up to this point, every stranger has been dangerous or threatening to the children, even when they seemed friendly. However, as they make their way to London, the strangers they encounter are all well-meaning and helpful. 

The first stranger is Mr. Wilderness, who isn’t a stranger to Simon but is to the girls. Bonnie looks skeptically at Mr. Wilderness, but is quickly won over by his kindness and his connection to Simon. Her trust is well-placed, as Mr. Wilderness provides the children with food, shelter, and care for Sylvia’s illness. Along the way they also meet others who extend a helping hand: “If it rained, farmers offered them shelter in barn or haymow. Often a kindly farmer’s wife invited them in for a plate of stew and sped them on their way with a baking of pasties and apple dumplings” (136). The children do what they can to repay the kind strangers, and so the trust is beneficial on both sides. These positive interactions show that not every stranger is necessarily dangerous, and that sometimes strangers can earn one another’s trust through demonstrating genuine compassion and care.

Finally, when they arrive in London, Dr. Field and Mr. Gripe are both shown to be helpful, kind, and trustworthy. Without Dr. Field’s help, the children would have struggled to help Aunt Jane and likely would have been harmed by Grimshaw. Mr. Gripe has also been deceived by Miss Slighcarp, which shows that adults, just like the novel’s child characters, also sometimes struggle to determine who is or is not trustworthy. Thus, although some strangers, like Miss Slighcarp and Mr. Grimshaw, demonstrate danger and threat, the remaining strangers are instrumental in obtaining justice and aid for the children and Willoughby Chase.

The geese are vital in the novel’s climax and resolution, becoming an important symbol of The Importance of Friendship in the text. The geese are the reason Simon goes to London, and the sale of the majority of the geese provides the money to nourish Aunt Jane when she’s ill. When Grimshaw arrives at Aunt Jane’s room, the geese raise the alarm and even knock him down the stairs: “At the top of the stairs were two indignant geese, still hissing and arching their necks for battle. Prone on the stairs head down, and cursing volubly, was Mr. Grimshaw” (151). Without the geese, Sylvia and Aunt Jane could have been surprised and attacked by Mr. Grimshaw. The geese therefore stand in this section as a source of aid and protection, serving as an extension of Simon’s nurturing and protective qualities.

The friendship between the core trio of Simon, Sylvia, and Bonnie also plays an important role in these closing chapters. The climax points come in several waves: Initially the discovery of Aunt Jane’s condition, then Mr. Grimshaw’s arrest, then the realization of the extent of Miss Slighcarp’s plans, and finally the revelation that Sir Willoughby and Lady Green survived the shipwreck. At each of these points, the friendship between Bonnie, Sylvia, and Simon facilitates their safety and success, allowing them to maintain a united front as they navigate each hurdle. Through their unfailing support of one another and smooth cooperation, they ensure that each one of them secures a happy ending.  

The ending of the novel also reflects The Impact of Independence. While Sylvia and Bonnie began the novel as children who were constantly cared for by others, they now step into a carer’s role by supporting Aunt Jane in her hour of need. When Sylvia discovers Aunt Jane ill in bed, Bonnie supports Sylvia and Aunt Jane by putting her cooking skills to use, which shows that she has developed practical domestic skills instead of needing servants to feed her. Similarly, Sylvia demonstrates increased confidence and independence by calmly tending to Aunt Jane, even sleeping by her bed to watch over her, instead of behaving in an uncertain or timid manner. By the time the girls are restored to their usual lives at Willoughby Chase, they have both grown and matured as people: They have become stronger, more resourceful, and more capable of looking after themselves.