Not Quite Romeo and Juliet
The opening page of the story situates Mr. Hopping in relation to Mrs. Silver. They converse whilst out upon their respective balconies. The balcony setting proves to be of essential significance and metaphor explains part of the deal:
“The distance between their balconies might not have been more than a few yards, but to Mr. Hoppy it seemed like a million miles.”
The Light Bulb
Mr. Hoppy is obstructed in his path to finding love with Mrs. Silver not because of the placement of the balconies, but rather what Mrs. Silver enjoys doing upon hers. She’s got a tortoise that is the love of her life. Her desperation for her beloved tortoise to enjoy life more robustly as one of those giant of the species grown so big that kids can ride upon their shells makes the light bulb go off above Mr. Hoppy’s skull:
“Mr. Hoppy’s mind was spinning like a fly-wheel. Here, surely, was his big chance. Grab it, he told himself. Grab it quick!”
Balcony Be Gone
Mr. Hoppy’s plan is devious to say the least, unlikely to suggest a little more, and successful beyond all belief. Finally, in fact, the moment he’s been waiting for arrives: Mrs. Silver invites him down to her apartment. The effect upon Mr. Hoppy can only be described figuratively:
“Mr. Hoppy turned and ran from the balcony into the living-room, jumping on tip-toe like a ballet-dancer between the sea of tortoises that covered the floor. He flung open his front door and flew down the stars two at a time with the love-songs of a thousand cupids ringing in his ears.”
Magic Words
The magic words in a romantic relationship are usually “I love you.” But this is not always the case. Take for instance, the magic words spoken in this relationship. To be absolute clear, they are purely metaphorical; this is one of Dahl’s stories for kids, not one that originally published in Playboy Magazine. Mr. Hoppy has convinced Mrs. Silver of a lie. That he has learned from a Bedouin tribesman the secret to making tortoises grow at an increased rate. It is upon hearing and believing this lie that Mrs. Silver speaks what are magic words to Mr. Hoppy:
“`I beg you to tell me, Mr. Hoppy. I’ll be your slave for life.’
When he heard the words your slave for life, a little shiver of excitement swept through Mr. Hoppy.”
A Certain Bright May Morning
The relationship between Mr. Hoppy and Mrs. Silver which is restricted solely to polite conversation leaning over their respective balconies changes forever one day in May. It is on that fateful day that Mr. Hoppy learns what Mrs. Silver wants most in the world. It is on that day that the wonderful idea which will forever change his future hits him. Everything traces back to that single moment in time:
“Now we come to a certain bright morning in May when something happened that changed and indeed electrified Mr. Hoppy’s life.”
