The Willoughbys

“The Willoughby parents frequently forgot that they had children and became irritable when they were reminded of it.”

With the wry tone of this passage, Lowry wastes no time in explaining the hostile family dynamics of the Willoughbys. Mr. and Mrs. Willoughby neglect and dislike their children and eventually abandon them, but they end up dying in the process. The revenge that their children take on them demonstrates The Impact of Parental Neglect and Abuse in a hyperbolic way.

“Jane began to cry a little, but very quietly, so that no one would notice. She vowed, through her quiet little tears, that one day she would prove Tim wrong.”

This passage demonstrates that the problematic family dynamics exist not just between the parents and the children but among the Willoughby siblings as well. Jane’s oldest brother, Tim, always tells her that she will never amount to anything because she is a girl, but rather than accepting this criticism, Jane uses it to fuel her desire to become more outspoken. She grows up to become a feminist writer, proving Tim wrong.

“‘I have a plan,’ Mr. Willoughby said, putting his paper down. He stroked one eyebrow in a satisfied way. ‘It’s thoroughly despicable.’”

Lowry tosses in more complex, less frequently used words surrounded by rich context to engage younger readers in critical thinking and expand their vocabulary. The reader already knows at this point that the Willoughby parents are antagonistic, and the passage delivers cues of body language and