The Window

       A common theme in literature is the idea that positive forces eventually overcome negative forces. The short story, "The Window," by Ethel Wilson, about an aging man who leaves his home and country to seek isolation, suggests this theme. The character, Mr. Willy, finds that isolation is not what he requires, and it is the start towards something positive in his life and away from his discontentment or negative forces. This overcoming of negative to positive forces is shown in the social interactions of Mr. Willy and in the symbolism of the window.
       The window in this story represents observation, isolation, reflection and illusion. At the start, Mr. Willy has this window put in his home so he can look out to the sea and beyond to the mountains. He looks out at this world and feels like he can't access it. He is too old to enjoy the mountains he thinks. He comes to live in this house away from his family to be alone, but he can not fully shut out the world as he still wants to see it outside his window. At night time, the window reflects himself and his evening activities of reading the papers and tending to some introspection. He is still interested enough in the world outside that he keeps up with its news. In the day, Mr. Willy uses the window to look for something outside of himself that will bring him contentment. The reflecting of the window at night signifies looking for this missing thing from within himself. He realizes this missing thing is the spirituality in his life, and it is the beginning of a search for the positive influence of spirituality from his previous unacknowledgement of this part of him.
       Mr. Willy leaves his home in England and the higher-class socializing he has become more and more dissatisfied with. He thinks it is isolation he needs, and he seeks it in the house with the window. He finds that he cannot leave people behind, and although he tries, he is not happy away from people either. There is an injured bird that Mr. Willy takes in and then releases. It gets hurt from his window—Mr. Willy still has an effect in the world and cannot run away entirely. He also cannot leave the bird to itself because he still has not lost all fondness for things in this life even though he may think he has. With the Wardhos, Mr. Willy is pulled back into the same social scene he was trying to get away from. Then there is the burglar who breaks into his home, representing how society may not leave you alone to isolation. From these experiences, of reclusive attempts in growing unhappiness with his life, Mr. Willy learns that he needs a balance between social interaction and isolation. He moves towards a positive handling of his life from the former negative uneasiness and unhappiness.
       Mr. Willy's social interaction and isolation, and the symbolism of the window highlight the theme of the triumph of positive forces over negative in the story, "The Window." Mr. Willy begins to realize what positive forces there are in his life from the negative forces he was seeming to become more steeped in, and it is the positive that prevails when he finds a balance of sociality and the beginning of his spiritual search.
    Essays 1