The Wolves of Willoughby Chase

One of the novel’s key themes is the importance of friendship. It is the friendship between Bonnie and Sylvia that sees them through all the threats they encounter. It is friendship that drives Simon to protect the girls from the wolves and support them through all their trials until the novel’s resolution. Finally, it is friendship that encourages the orphan girls to offer comfort and support to Bonnie and Sylvia, which in turn secures their own happy ending.

Bonnie and Sylvia’s friendship is the most important relationship in the book. Although they’re also cousins, Bonnie’s warmth immediately wins Sylvia over. During the first night at Willoughby, it’s Bonnie’s comfort that assures Sylvia of safety and joy to come: “[Bonnie] hugged Sylvia again, and […] began telling her of all the plans she had […] Sylvia could not help being cheered by this happy prospect, and soon both children fell asleep, the dark head and the fair on one pillow” (42). The image of Bonnie’s “dark head” and Sylvia’s “fair one” together foreshadows all the times they will support each other in the novel. Sylvia advocates for Bonnie with Miss Slighcarp, and comforts Bonnie when Sir Willoughby and Lady Green leave the Chase.