Concept “Love” in the novel “The railway children” by Edith Nesbith

Abstract

The article is fixed at study of concept “love” as the basis of the main characters’ feelings, existing in many variants: love as sincere amiability, love as the object of love, love as interest and inner urge, love as intimate relations. Using the given examples the author proves the suggested conclusions concerning relationships between main characters and their environment. By means of parents’ narrations and reminiscences the writer demonstrates frank feelings between children’s parents. They met in their childhood and have been preserving their friendship and later love for many years and experiencing a lot of various life challenges. The author also presents examples showing amiable and healthy relationships of parents and children, since their parents pay enough attention to them: they spend their time in a qualitative way, they play together and communicate. It is very important that the children, who are the main characters of the novel, are real friends, they support each other and initiate common captivating activity. Though this publication also contains the situation of misunderstanding between brother and sisters in terms of attitude to sick people. However, the problem was quickly solved by the local doctor, who had a necessary conversation with Peter concerning the difference in acts and perception between men and women. In this way he made a male influence on the boy’s development, because the boy really lacked father’s upbringing. Besides, they also take care of their fellow villagers, helping them in difficult situations.A special vivid good deed of three children is saving of the boy with broken leg.Just due to their curiosity and perceptivity they could find the sufferer in the dark tunnel and send him to the doctor. Three children as the main characters of the novel often perform in the role of inventors and creators of their own images, rules of behaviour, coded movements. It is in particular demonstrated in their addressing forms to their mother as the only adult caring about them doing all her best. They tenderly call her Ma, Mammy, Mother, Mother-love showing respect and limitless love.