THE RAILWAY CHILDREN: SYNOPSIS

The Railway Children is a wonderful story . The story tells about

three children,

Roberta (Bobbie), Peter and Phyllis are living a lovely, secure life at Edgecomb Villa. Their
father returns home after being away on business, two unknown men come to visit him in the
evening after supper, and he simply disappears. Neither the reader nor the children know
what has happened to him until Bobbie makes a chance discovery and learns the horrible
truth.
In the intervening time, their mother, a capable and charming woman, takes her
children to live in the country near a railway station, because they must "play at being poor
for a while." The children handle their new situation with grace and wit, spending hours
hanging about the railway station and generally keeping themselves busy, and in the
process becoming fast friends with the porter, Perks, and the station master. They also
become acquainted with their own old gentleman who lends a hand to help them time and
again.
Bobbie is the eldest and sweetest of the children, with a longing to be truly good.
Peter is the boy, who is madly in love with trains, stubbornly refuses to be pushed around,
and exhibits an extraordinary courage in the rescue of a baby and a young man in a train
tunnel. Phyllis is the youngest, a funny, clumsy child with good intentions that often seem to
go awry.
This sentimental favorite children's book has the moral values of E. Nesbitt, who was
a famous liberal activist (Fabian Socialist) in England. She creates a household utopian
vision of a world where people are naturally good and where parents raise their children to
be helpful and honest and brave.
This provides the background charm for a really lovely tale about a family in distress
who sticks together bravely and provides a shining example to all around them, while being
aided by equally high-minded and kind folks around them.
A knock on the door at the idyllic middle class town home of the children ends with a
tragedy that they can scarcely understand. But Mother is brave and despite rumors of
terrible things, they make their way to a more modest home in the country, next to a railway
line. The children become friends with the trains and the regular commuters who wave at
them. Their fascination with the train results in a heroic rescue. Meanwhile, their situation is

sometimes difficult, and they develop some remarkable strategies for getting aid. There is a
happy ending.
The morals taught to the children are particularly British (helpful, kind, brave) but
certainly apply to us as well. The goodness that the children spread is really a lovely
message and contributes to the charm and longevity of this great story.

PERSONAL CRITICAL RESPONSE THE RAILWAY CHILDREN

The novel that I choose is The Railway Children by Edith Nesbit. The story tells us about
howthree rich, urban children adapted to living in poverty in the countryside when their father
wasfalsely accused of being a spy. The story narrates the close bond between the siblings
and theirattachment to the railway station and its employees. They experienced many
enriching adventuresthat spell out the importance of humanity. The value that I have learnt is
responsibility and it isportrayed through Mother.Mother felt that it was her responsibility to
take the children away from the damaging news about her husbands arrest on suspicion of
being a spy. So, she takes the children away from London to the countryside where they are
far from the scene of crime. She did not want the children toknow about the lies that they are
associated with her husband.
Indeed, learning of this news can bevery damaging to the children who would be ridiculed
by their classmates and they would betraumatized. So, to avoid being stigmatized, Mother
did the right move of moving her children to thecountryside, far away from the scene. She is
very responsible as she cares about the mental healthof her children.Also, Mother takes it
upon her to ensure that the children are well-taken care of and do notmiss their luxurious
lifestyle in London. The children are accustomed to the comforts of the uppercrust a
luxurious home and all things good. Hence, Mother did not want the children to pine forthe
lifestyle they are accustomed to. So, she writes stories and sell for magazines to provide
thechildren with the basic necessities shelter, food and clothes. When she was able to sell
a story, shetreated them to tea and cakes. This is a big responsibility for a single parent to
shoulder especiallysince she had been a housewife and had the comforts of a maid.
However, Mother did not want todeprive her children of the comforts they deserve, so she
wrote stories. This proves that Mother isindeed responsible.Finally, Mother also assumes the
responsibility of instilling moral values in the children.Although Mother was always busy
writing stories, she never neglected her duty as a mother. Sheensured the children are
brought up well, infused with the necessary moral values to have righteouschildren. Thus,
she was annoyed when she found out that the children sought help from the oldgentleman to

buy the things Dr Forrest requested for her to get well. She reminded them that theyshould
not tell strangers that they are poor and accept help from them. This simple act
confirmedthat she was very concerned with the values the children learn. Thus, she
corrected them when they do. Indeed, a mothers role is not just in providing the basic needs
of the family, but also to ensure her children grow up virtuously and not become the garbage
of society.