The Little Willow,A story of Silent Love

Discuss the short story 'The Little Willow' as a story of unspoken love?

The little Willow

                By Francis Tower

It is a very beautiful story about silent love. The hero of the story is Simon whereas the

heroine of the story is a young beautiful girl named Lisby. Simon and Lisby love

each other but they do not express their love. Their love is only eye to eye and heart to heart.

It is an unspoken love.

Courthouse is a place where the Army officers come to spend their holidays. There live

three sisters: Charlotte, Brenda and Lisby. Charlotte and Brenda are not sincere in love.

They are labeled as husband hunters. They do not love anybody from the core

of their hearts.

When Simon Byrne comes there for the first time, he stands at the threshold of the courthouse.

Lisby looks at him and feels that he is his kind of person. Simon likes the painting that is

favourite with her. They both like each other and start loving each other in their

hearts. But they do not express their love.

After passing his holidays when he is going to leave. Lisby gives him a little willow

tree as a gift of love.

Later was killed in the war. At the time of death he was keeping the willow tree with him.

Although it was also broken by heavy shelling. When the war ends, the lovers of Brenda

and Charlotte return. But Simon did not return.

Once a guest tells Lisby that he was with Simon when he died. He tells that Simon loved the
girl who had given him the willow tree. At that time Lisby tells him that Simon was her love.

She starts crying.

In the end of the story when her sister tells her that there is no letter for her, she tells

her that she has received her letter.

In this story , the willow tree is the symbol of love ,the love which is silent love. It is also a symbol

of purity, the purity of hearts. It is the biggest expresser of love. It speaks the words that

are not spoken by the lover