The Bloggs also possess the naïve confidence that pamphlets issued by the government can save them from the devastation of a nuclear bomb. They think that because they cannot see or taste anything in the air, there is no danger. They have little understanding of concepts such as fallout and radiation poisoning. In When the Wind Blows, the Bloggs are presented as kindly but ignorant and mired in the ways of the past, unable to comprehend that the Soviet Union and not the “Jerries” were now their enemies. His expressive style makes the ensuing tragedy all the more devastating. The novel closes with James and Hilda crawling back into their shelter and praying as they die.īest known for his children’s stories, author Raymond Briggs uses pastel shades and a simple drawing style that emphasizes the innocence of the main characters. He believes emergency services will eventually come to rescue them, but no help arrives, presumably since everyone else has been destroyed by the attack. Throughout, James maintains his unwavering faith in the government (referred to as The Powers That Be) to protect its citizens. Despite the increasing hopelessness of their situation, the Bloggs attempt to go about their lives as normal, even noting errands they must run once the crisis passes. As days pass, they grow increasingly sicker from radiation sickness, although they do not recognize their symptoms as such, attributing their weakness to shock.
The Bloggs still believe that they will survive this war just as they did the last and that the Soviets will surely be defeated.Īfter leaving their shelter, James and Hilda realize their utilities and lines of communication have been completely cut off, and their stores of drinking water have been destroyed by the blast. They reminisce fondly on their childhood during World War II, time having colored their memories rosy. It quickly becomes apparent that the two do not understand the seriousness of their situation.
When he hears that an outbreak of hostilities may only be three days away, James follows the guidance of nuclear preparation booklets and immediately begins to build a fallout shelter inside their home.Īlthough they survive the initial blast from the bomb, the Bloggs are both woefully unprepared for the aftermath. Although James often misunderstands information broadcasted by radio news, he is fully aware of the threat of nuclear war with the Soviet Union on the horizon. When the Wind Blows is the story of a retired couple, James and Hilda Bloggs, living in an isolated cottage in the English countryside during the Cold War.
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