Esio Trot

Mr. Hoppy’s flowers are one of his two great loves. One of his loves is a public display, and the other is a secret. He doesn’t have to acknowledge his shyness around his flowers, and he displays them in spite of this trait: “They grew in pots and tubs and baskets, and in summer the little balcony became a riot of colour” (9). Flowers are beautiful and fragile. They require care and attention. They symbolize Mr. Hoppy’s ability to nurture and his appreciation of beauty. They also represent the care he would show Mrs. Silver. The flowers are the only living entity that receives sincere, honest care from Mr. Hoppy. Even his love for Mrs. Silver is compromised by the lies he tells in order to win her heart.

Mr. Hoppy watches Mrs. Silver from his balcony for years. She looks up from her own balcony each time they talk. The balcony is an allusion to the famous balcony scene in Shakespeare’s play Romeo and Juliet. Romeo and Juliet have no issues with communication or shyness. Indeed, the lovers’ conversation at the balcony is one of literature’s most famous dialogues.

The balcony is also an observation post for Mr. Hoppy. It represents his shyness and his inability to engage with Mrs. Silver up close. They only talk when he is on his balcony and she is on hers. The physical distance between their balconies represents the gulf between them, which is a result of his lack of confidence.

The balconies also reflect the personalities and interests of each character—what they each put out into the world. In a literal sense, Mr. Hoppy displays the flowers that he tends on his, and Mrs. Silver houses Alfie on hers. In addition, Mrs. Silver’s balcony is larger and sticks out from the building more than Mr. Hoppy’s. This not only allows him to see what’s happening below but also reflects the degree to which each character engages with the world—or doesn’t, in Mr. Hoppy’s case.