Wednesday, 17 December 2014

The Little Willow by Frances Towers

Difference Between Lisby and Her Sisters
     Lisby Avery is the heroine of the short story "The Little Willow" by Frances Towers. She has two elder sisters, Charlotte and Brenda. When we have a comparative study of the characters of the three sisters, we find that Lisby is quite different from her siblings. Her beaut, love and morality do not correspond with that of her sisters.
    Firstly, Lisby is not physically attractive and glamorous but has a tremendous inner beauty. On the other hand, hers sisters lack spiritual beauty but outwardly they are 'charmers'. They wear dresses of bright eye-catching colours. Charlotte has a face like La Belle Ferroniere and Brenda has the flower-like delicacy of Piero della Francesca.
     Secondly, Lisby believes in true love. She only loves Simon Byrne and remains constant in her love. As for her sisters, they are playful and flirting girls. They pretend to be in love with all the eligible army officers who visit the Court House. Their love is selfish and business like. In short, they are "the types of the seductive woman in any age". 
     Thirdly, Lisby is a moral girl. Even the war has not perturbed her morality. She still likes "the picture" that belongs to her forefathers. This shows her love and respect for her ancestors. However, her sisters are heartless, insensitive and immoral. The deaths of their erstwhile lovers have no effect on them. Thus they remind us one of Keats' "La Belle Dame Sans Merci."

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