Mr. Toad usually referred to as Toad is one of the four main protagonists of the 1908 book The Wind in the Willows franchise and it's sequel The Willows in Winter. Unlike the other protagonists Badger, Rat and Mole, Toad is presented as more of an anti-heroic character; being somewhat vain and selfish, who gets into trouble with the law on several occasions. Despite this, Toad's heart is in the right place and ultimately he does change for the better.
Mr. Toad is the wealthy owner and resident of the appropriately named Toad Hall, the largest and most luxurious residence on the River Bank. Toad inherited the estate from his late father, who was a friend of Mr Badger's. Toad is known for his adventurous spirit and his ever changing obsessions. He will become interested in something for a certain amount of time, before giving it up and moving on to something else.
Despite the differences in their social status, Toad is well known and generally liked by the local residents of the River Bank. At some point, he became acquainted with Mr Rat, a water vole known for his love of the river and boats. In fact, when Mr Mole, who had only just recently visited the river first sees Toad, the latter has taken an interest in river boats. Whilst enjoying a picnic, Rat, Mole and Mr Otter see Toad attempting to row down the river (and failing miserably).
By the time Rat takes Mole to Toad Hall to introduce the latter to Toad properly however, the rich amphibian has given up on his craze of river boats. Toad warms up to Mole quickly, before taking the pair to show them his latest interest: gypsy caravans. Having recently purchased one, Toad states that he intends to travel and eventually persuades the eager Mole and reluctant Rat to join him on the expedition. A few days into the trip however, the caravan ends up being knocked over when a passing motorcar startles the horse pulling it.
Whilst Rat shouts after the driver of the car and Mole calms down the horse, Toad enters a trance like state, amazed by what he just witnessed. In an instant, he forgets about caravans and develops a new interest in motorcars.
With no other means of transportation, the three friends are forced to walk to nearest town. Despite Rat's statement, Toad refuses to lodge a complaint against the motorcars driver, declaring that he is finished with carts forever. Realising that Toad is going to be of no assistance at all, Rat and Mole take control of the situation. As Toad continues to fantasize about motorcars, Rat and Mole arrange for the caravan to be collected. Afterwards they go to the railway and manage to catch a train back to the Riverbank. After dropping Toad back off at Toad Hall, Rat and Mole return to Rat's home.
Later the next day, Rat, who has sworn never to go travelling with Toad again, tells Mole the latest gossip from the other riverbankers. Apparently, Toad returned to town earlier that morning and ordered a fancy new motorcar. Thus, Toad's latest fixation begins and it lasts far longer than any of his other obsessions.
By the time Rat and Mole stumble upon Badger's residence in the dead of winter, Toads craze about motorcars is still going strong. When Badger asks how Toad is getting on however, the pair paint a very grim picture. Badger is told that in the intervening months, Toad has bought and crashed no fewer than seven motorcars. The remnants of these written off machines now lie strewn across his coach-house. Three of these crashes landed Toad in hospital for weeks or months at a time. Worst of all, Toad is now frequently getting into trouble with the law. He has had numerous run-ins with the police, which have resulted in either serious warnings or hefty fines.
Yet, despite all of this, Toad continues to insist that he is "a heaven born driver". He refuses to listen to reason, give up his craze or do the more sensible thing like hiring a chauffeur or an instructor. The clearly worried Rat and Mole state that something needs to be done about him. Rat speculates that if they don't do something, Toad will either kill somebody, probably himself or end up bankrupt, because despite his wealth, Toad isn't a millionaire. Badger agrees with this sentiment, but states that it is far too late in the year for him to be worrying about Toad now. After promising to take the matter in hand once the winter is over and spring has come about, the animals put Toad to the back of their minds for the time being and instead focus upon celebrating Christmas.
A few months later, once the cold weather has passed and the flowers are blooming again, Badger shows up at Rat's residence unannounced. He tells the younger mammals that he is now ready to take Toad in hand and asks for their assitance, to which a relieved Rat and Mole eagerly comply. The group quickly make their way to Toad Hall, where Toad is just about to purchase another expensive vehicle. There they find Toad donning his driving garments.
Toad is initially elated to see his friends again, but his joy quickly falters when he sees the groups serious exprssions. On Badger's orders, Toad is taken back inside by Rat and Mole. Badger himself turns to the car salesman and instructs him, much to Toad's horror, to take the vehicle away. Toad demands that the trio explain themselves, but Badger refuses to speak to him whilst the latter is wearing such a ridiculous attire. When Toad refuses to take off his driving gear, Rat and Mole, on Badger's instructions, strip Toad of his gloves, hat and goggles, with the irate Toad fighting and struggling all the while. Only once his normal attire is revealed again does Badger finally confront Toad about his antics.
After telling him that he should have known something like this would happen sooner or later, Badger calls out the young amphibian for his attrocious behaviour. He makes it very clear that they are not going to let Toad run recklessly any more or squandor the money his father left him. Deciding to give his best friends son one last chance, Badger takes Toad into the smoking room so that he can tell him in full what his antics have done. As the door closes, Rat states that he doubts this is going to work.
Three-quarters of an hour later, Toad and Badger reemerge. At first it looks as though Toad has seen the error of his ways, with Badger stating that the former is now ready to apologise for his mistakes. However, Toad proves Rat right, when, contrary to Badger's statement, he retracts all of the statements he made in the smoking room and refuses to apologise, making it very clear that he just whatever Badger wanted so that the latter would stop shouting at him. Despite everything that has been said to him, his friends sincere pleas and concerns for his wellbeing, Toad makes it very clear that he is not going to give up his obsession with motorcars. Instead, he vows to drive off in the very next motorcar he sees, whether it is his or not.
This is the final straw for Badger, Rat and Mole. Left with no choice, the three friends place Toad under house arrest, vowing to watch him night and day, until he changes his mind. Toad is confined to his bedroom, with his three caretakers taking turns to watch him. For a while this plan works. Then, one day, Badger and Mole head out, leaving Rat in charge of Toad. Sensing his opportunity, the young amphibian tricks Rat into leaving him alone by pretending to be ill. Once Rat is gone, Toad ties all of the bed sheets together to form a makeshift rope, climbs out the window and flees in the countryside. By the time Rat and the others discover what has happened, it is too late. Knowing that the trail will have gone cold, they decide not to pursue him, hoping that Toad will return of his own accord.
After fleeing Toad Hall, Toad eventually reaches The Red Lion pub, where he stops for lunch. Whilst enjoying his meal, a group of humans arrive at the pub in a large expensive motorcar. This immediately catches Toad's attention. As the cars occupants enter pub for lunch, Toad quietly pays for his meal and slips outside, before sneaking over to the vehicle. Seemingly unaware of what he is doing, Toad carries out the promise he made and, after powering up the vehicle, he drives off in it. What happened next is not clear but in the end Rat and Mole's worst fears were finally realised.
Toad was eventually apprehended, tried and convicted of theft, dangerous driving and verbally insulting his arresting officers. Toad's strict and unsympathetic judge asks what are the stiffest penalties he can enforce, since there is of course no doubt as to the prisoners guilt. The court clerk suggests a total of 20 years in prison; 1 year for the theft, 3 years for the dangerous driving and 15 years for insulting the officers, plus an extra year "to be on the safe side". The Judge ecstatically agrees with this suggestion, before adding that should Toad ever appeared in court again, no matter what the charge, he will be dealt with much more seriously. With that Toad is dragged unceremoniously off to the jail, much to the amusement and mockery of the local residents.
Whilst in prison, Toad befriends the daughter of the prison's galor, who disguises him as a washer woman to help him escape prison. Toad later takes a train to go back home, but is pursued by the police. After telling his story to the train's driver, the driver, rather than hand him over to the police, helps him escape the police by having him jump off the train as they go into a tunnel.
Toad later comes across a woman operating a horse-drawn barge and convinces her to let him ride on the barge by saying that he is a washer woman who has a daughter living near Toad Hall. When the barge woman realises who he is, she throws Toad off the barge. However, Toad gets his revenge by stealing the woman's horse and selling it to a gypsy in return for money. Toad later hitches a ride from a passing car, only to discover that it is the same vehicle he had previously stolen. At first the passengers of the car do not recognise Toad, but when they do, they try to seize him. Acting fast Toad grabs the steering wheel, puts his foot to the floor and drives the car into a pond before fleeing.
Unfortunately for Toad, the police were not far away, resulting in a chase across the country fields. While trying to escape the police, Toad ends up jumping into a river which takes him to Rat's home. There he discovers that whilst he was in prison, his friends tried watching the house for him. However, the Wild Wooders (namely the weasels and stoats) attacked them, evicted the trio and have now taken over Toad Hall. However, all is not lost, for the three friends have a plan. Mr. Badger knows of a secret tunnel that leads directly into Toad Hall. With a bit of deception from Mole, the four friends manage to lure the security forces outside, whilst the rest of the weasels remain inside to celebrate their chiefs birthday.
As a result of this, Toad and his friends are able to enter the building undetected. Waiting for the opportune moment, the group spring an ambush, which catches the Wild Wooders completely off guard. Toad is understandably the most angry of the group for kicking him out of and helping themselves to the luxuries of his ancestoral home. He personally sees off the Chief Weasel, as the Wild Wooders run out of Toad Hall en-masse.
Following the spectacle, Toad, at Badger's suggestion, hosts an expensive banquet to mark his return. Despite some initial reservations, Toad quickly warms up to the idea. Instead of just invitations however, he proceeds to write an entire repertoire for the evening, concerning speeches and songs. After delivering the invitations however, the other animals, Rat in particular, state that this is not a good idea. They tell him quite blunly that his songs are not only gastly, but vain and self-serving. They essentially tell him that he is behaving just like he was before his arrest and that this sort of behaviour simply cannot continue.
These words have profound effect upon Toad, who at long last finally acknowledge's himself for the pompous fool he really is. Though hurt by his friends words, he vows to turn over a new leaf. Seeing Toad's despair, Rat feels guilty, but Badger states that Toad needed to hear these words.
That night, the festivities take place. Toad, after dressing himself in his best attire, sings one final song on his way to the spectacle, "When the Toad came Home". When he finally reaches the banquet, the riverbankers cheer and applaude, before asking about his exploits. What happens next, takes them all by surprise. Toad's prison sentence, his journey back to the River Bank, bid to reclaim Toad Hall and the words of his three best friends have genuinely humbled him. Downplaying his own involvement, Toad praises his friends for their antics, gives no speech or song and renounces his obsession with motor cars forever.
Toad then proceeds to make amends for his previous behaviour. He sends gifts to the people that helped him following his arrest (the gaelor's daughter and the train driver), along with financial compensation to those he wronged (namely the barge woman). After that, Toad settles down and proceeds to live a much more peaceful and quiet life. Toad, Mole, Rat and Badger, who will occassionally walk through the Wild Wood together, would go on to live happily ever after and remain friends for the rest of their lives.
One summer sometime after the events of the first story, Toad allows Mole's recently orphaned nephew to stay with him at Toad Hall and they play croquet together. But Toad ends up sending Mole's nephew back to live with his uncle in Mole End after becoming fascinated by a plane.
By winter, Toad has bought a plane but is not pleased to learn that only a licensed pilot can fly it. The plane's pilot agrees to keep his head down to make it look like that Toad is flying the plane. Rat and Badger see Toad flying in the sky and later go to Toad Hall to confront him over his recklessness and decide that the plane should be used to look for a missing Mole. However, Toad knocks out the pilot and starts to command the plane with Rat on board. Toad ends up forgetting about looking for Mole and starts doing stunts, causing Rat to fall out of the plane. Luckily, Rat is able to activate his parachute.
Later, Toad ends up crashing the plane into a greenhouse, whose owner is revealed to be the judge that sent Toad to jail for the car theft. Not wanting the judge to know who he is, Toad claims to be a pilot trying to prove himself, causing him to be regarded as a hero. Whilst staying at the judge's home, Toad is invited to dinner. Not wanting his cover to be blown, Toad blocks up the chimney in his room and requests a sweep. Toad then gets the sweep drunk and then steals his clothes. Toad then ends up revealing his identity and the judge orders his arrest, but Toad manages to escape. Toad is roped into attending a wedding to bring good luck. However, the father of the groom is revealed to be the judge, resulting in Toad being arrested. An article in a paper reporting Toad's arrest make him out as a menace to society and claim that he killed the sweep.
At court, Toad tearfully pleads guilty to all his charges and confesses abandoning the search for Mole and possibly causing Rat's death. This confuses the court, who had no knowledge of Toad's friends. Just then, a letter from the editor of The Times newspaper (who is an old friend of Badger) arrives and says that he and Badger vouch for Toad's good character. The judge's butler also testifies for Toad and reveals that the sweep is alive. Toad's charges are dropped and he is allowed to return to Toad Hall.
However, whilst drinking at home, Toad accidentally knocks over a candle, which causes a fire to start. Luckily, Rat and an alive and well Mole use the tunnel underneath Toad Hall to enter and rescue Toad. As he watches his home burn, Toad says that he has no insurance to restore it. However, it is revealed by Rat that a rich American relative of Toad's has passed away and has left Toad $5,000,000 (3,528,600.00 in pounds) in his will, meaning that Toad will be able to restore Toad Hall after all.
Portrayers[]
Animated and Stop Motion[]
The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad (1949) - Eric Blore
The Wind in the Willows (1983) and follow-up 1984-1990 series - David Jason (who also played Danger Mouse and Count Duckula)
The Wind in the Willows (1987) - Charles Nelson Reilly
The Wind in the Willows (1995) and The Willows in Winter (1996) - Rik Mayall (who also played Rick, Richie, Edwin and King Arthur)
Live Action[]
The Wind in the Willows (known in the United States as Mr. Toad's Wild Ride) (1996) - Terry Jones
The Wind in the Willows (2006) - Matt Lucas
Gallery[]
Mr. J. Thaddeus Toad in The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad
Mr. Toad in the 1983 adaptation of The Wind in the Willows.
Mr. Toad in the 1987 adaptation of The Wind in the Willows.
Mr. Toad in the 1995 adaptation of The Wind in the Willows.
Mr. Toad in the 1996 film The Willows in Winter (sequel to the 1995 film)
Mr. Toad in the 1996 live action adaptation of The Wind in the Willows (Mr. Toad's Wild Ride in the United States)
Mr. Toad in the 2006 live action adaptation of The Wind in the Willows
Trivia[]
Mr. Toad was inspired by Alastair, the son of The Wind in the Willows' author Kenneth Grahame.
Rik Mayall, who potrayed Toad in the 1995 film adaptation and it's 1996 sequel The Willows in Winter, said that Toad was always his favourite character and had always wanted to play him.
Although he ultimately reformed in the book, a lot of television and film adaptations have Toad taking up a new obsession in place of motorcars, usually, aeroplanes.
