HC Andersen

Yesterday afternoon, my cousin's daughter, who is Palmer's age and who knows English (she lived in Ireland until last year) came over for dinner and a play date. Because she was the guest, we let her pick out what show we would watch, and she chose a DVD I have of some HC Andersen tales in Icelandic. We watched the Matchbox, the story about the three dogs that guard piles of copper, silver, and gold. They come to the soldier whenever he strikes his magic matchbox. They also help him win the affections of the princess.

We read this story at Berkeley, and there we spent a great deal of attention discussing the dogs' eyes, and what they symbolized. The cartoon gave the dogs regular eyes, instead of the bizarre spinning eyes in the original.

Anyhow, it was nice not to have that distraction, because I think now I have come up with a better interpretation of the story. The matchbox is the soldier's self confidence, perhaps even arrogance. The more confident and arrogant he feels, the more magic he can accomplish. If he looses his confidence, everything falls apart.

I think that is a much better interpretation, than to wonder whether or not HC was on drugs when he wrote this story. Grad school really can make the simplest things complicated.

Comments

Valur said…
He was probably not on drugs. This is one of his first fairy tales from 1835 and I think it was much later that he was ill on morphine.

Morphine does of course constrict the pupils. I don´t know if that means anything. The first dog had eyes large as teacups, the second one big as mill-wheels and the third one big as towers. Sounds like their pupils are more dilated.

Anyway, I love Hans Christian Andersen but the soldier is not much of a role model for children. At least not since he cuts the old woman's head of her.
March 26, 2010 at 11:13 PM
Lissy said…
Well, I identified with him, anyhow.

My son of course ran out of the room when the witch came on the screen.
March 26, 2010 at 11:33 PM
Valur said…
He has got some brutal traits. But he's none the less a soldier-hero, a character more directed to adults. So naturally you identify with him.

Anyhow, I came across this. It is kinda funny & cute.
March 27, 2010 at 1:38 PM
Lissy said…
They all had totally Californian accents. That was too funny. Thank you.
March 28, 2010 at 3:37 PM
Lissy said…
Hey, tonight it is Andres Önd í staffræðilandi. I don't think they make cartoons like that anymore!
March 28, 2010 at 7:25 PM
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