Alfie is Mrs. Silver’s tortoise, who “had been with Mrs. Silver for years” (14). He is also, at least in Mr. Hoppy’s mind, Mr. Hoppy’s rival for Mrs. Silver’s affections. Alfie is a symbol of Mrs. Silver’s love. She dotes on him and wants him to grow so that he can feel better about himself. She tells Mr. Hoppy, “Think about how miserable it must make him feel to be so titchy! Everyone wants to grow up” (20). “Titchy” is British slang for “tiny,” which she finds a miserable prospect. Alfie’s size also echoes Dahl’s recurring jokes that size is always important. Alfie also represents Mr. Hoppy’s deception. He is replaced, not by Mr. Hoppy, but by other, heavier tortoises. He is eventually rehomed to Roberta, but Mr. Hoppy’s gain is Alfie’s loss.

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).