Posted by Magnus Smith on July 28, 2013 at 13:21:41 user Magnus.
In Reply to: Thoughts After Another Re-Reading posted by Mike Dennis on July 28, 2013 at 07:51:19:
You asked for corrections: The page needs a 'title' tag in the HTML header as it just reads "index" at present. Plus "The Wild Things" proper title is "Where The Wild Things Are".
It was an interesting essay - thank you for sharing. I agreed with many of your points, though a few made me want to air my opinion in response...
I believe the use of an absent father is a standard plot trick for hundreds of children's authors - it is not remarkable that Ransome used it. Authors usually have to get rid of the parents somehow in order for the kids to have their adventure. I don't think (fictional) kids can have quite so much carefree fun with a parent around, even one that is as useful as Jim Turner was (and he wasn't always around).
Plus, I don't think Ransome actually talks about HOW the death(?) of Bob Blackett affects Nancy/Peggy, or WHETHER having a father in the Navy affects the Swallows. It is just used as a way to keep adults out of the way, explained at the beginning of a book in order to facilitate all future activities.
Or have I missed the point you were making?
On the theme of 'rite of passage' I often feel this is covered best in Chapter XXXI of S&A where each of the four Swallows reflects on their island time, as they leave it:
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Slowly the fleet slipped past Wild Cat Island. The island was once more the uninhabited island that Titty had watched for so many days from the Peak of Darien. And yet, it was not that island. John, looking at it, remembered the harbour and the leading lights and his swim all round it, and the climbing of the great tree. For Roger it would always be the place where he had swum for the first time. For Susan it was the camp and house-keeping and cooking for a large family. Titty thought of it as Robinson Crusoe’s island. It was her island more than anyone’s because she had been alone on it.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
As usual, Titty is favoured above the others!