wizard

 (I had deleted it by mistake. I am re-posting it)

What are the moral issues that the story raises?                                                           

The story and the one within it both underscore the conflict between the views of adults and children and raise moral issues pertaining to parenting. Jack, used to his daughter’s admiration, was now annoyed as the four year old had started questioning him and to quell her he deliberately changed the happy ending of the usual story. He wanted her to learn that reality is harsh and parents with their experience know best.

In his story the Mother Skunk was angry when Roger got the wizard to make him smell like roses so that other children would play with him. She hit wizard on his head demanding that he return Roger’s original stink as she loved him the way he was. This raises the moral issue of whether parents should always decide what is right for their children. Jack insisted ‘She knew what was right ‘. Jack raises another issue- one does not have to change to please others but be true to one’s nature for eventually one is accepted. Using his experience, Jack said that the little Skunk agreed with his mother because he loved her more than the other animals and knew she was right.

However, little Jo insisted on a happy ending, as sadness fills children with insecurity. As a child she understood Roger’s pain at being ridiculed by children for his stink. So, she insisted that the wizard hit the ‘stupid’ Mommy back for taking away her baby’s happiness. She insisted that the next day her father should tell her the story the way she wanted it - a viewpoint that merits attention.

Should Wizard hit mommy? Is the title apt?

The title presents conflicting viewpoints of an adult and a child. It poses a pertinent question – Are parents always right in their decisions for their children or do children’s viewpoints also deserve merit?

Jack, as a ritual, narrated a story to his daughter about a baby animal, a Roger something with a problem, which would magically be solved by the wizard. Roger would then happily play with friends and return home in time for a happy meal with his parents. But this time, Jack who was irritated by her questioning, correcting and taking him for granted, deliberately changed the end and upset Jo.

 Roger Skunk, shunned for his stink, was happy to find friends with his new smell of roses given by the wizard. But Roger’s mother was angry and hit the wizard on his head and demanded that he return Roger’s original smell. Jack insisted on this end as his own humiliating experiences in childhood influenced his decision. He wanted Jo to know that reality is harsh.  Almost defending the traditional view, Jack said that Roger Skunk agreed with his mother’s decision because he loved his mother and ‘She knew what was right.’

 However, Jo strongly feels that Jack must change the end. She wanted the wizard to hit ‘stupid mommy’ for taking away her son’s happiness. A mere child, she believed in a rosy world of happy solutions and joyful endings. She could feel Roger’s pain at being rejected and friendless and this ending was thus unacceptable to her. These clashing experiences are aptly captured in the title.

 (Q.) Character Sketch of Jack.

Jack, who was a skillful story teller, had been telling stories to his daughter since she was two years old with all the special effects that delighted her. He had enjoyed her attention but now the four years old Jo’s ‘reality phase’ annoyed him. Though Jack is conscious of his duties as a father and husband, but he was unable to accept any defiance of his authority.  He felt tired and confused by her constant questioning, pointing out his errors, and suggesting alternatives. His believed that parents know what is best for their children. His childhood humiliations and his mother’s support made him defend parental authority.

On the other hand, he was irritated at seeing in her mother’s artificial mannerisms in Jo. A domineering man, he did not like women to take him for granted. So, when Jo lost interest assuming the expected end of the story, he changed the ending of the story, and refused to yield to Jo’s demand for a different ending.  He deliberately extended the story even though he knew that he should be helping his pregnant wife Claire paint the woodwork. He was annoyed that she had not waited for him.

 He could not accept that Jo now had a mind of her own. He exercised authority and snapped at Jo. He felt caught in an ugly middle position-one with conflicting emotions and a strange detachment troubling him. He felt lonely with no one to turn to, as a marital discord kept him from turning to his wife.

Q. What is the ugly middle position where jack finds himself trapped?

 The ugly middle position refers to jack’s frustration and dilemma in the face of his responsibilities. Jack is not used to the women questioning his authority and Jo’s constant interruptions, pointing out mistakes, questioning and suggesting her own ‘ending’ annoys jack.  It is a middle position where he is bound by his parental responsibility and wishes her to understand that life is harsh and parents know best, but realizes she has her own viewpoint but he is unable to accept it. His own humiliations in his childhood make him defend Roger’s mother, indirectly his own mother and parental authority. But he is at a loss as he is unable to satisfy Jo’s apprehensions. He fails to understand her childhood insecurities.

His pregnant wife Claire too had not waited for his help and was dragging heavy furniture. He is upset at seeing her in his shirt as if she had assumed his role.  As a result he finds himself trapped in a cage of complex marital responsibilities and emotions along with his wife. He felt lonely with no one to turn to.