Miss Potter Doesn’t Have Any Guns
I recently sat down with Caleb(6) and Elijah(4 1/2) to watch the movie, “Miss Potter.” I have been a fan of Beatrix Potter my whole life and have of course read the tales of Peter Rabbit, Jemimah Puddle Duck, Samuel Whiskers and all their friends to my sons. I thought they would enjoy the story behind the stories. Another attracive feature of the movie for little boys, I thought, is that Obi-Wan Kenobi (Ewan McGregor) plays in it.
The movie is a thoroughly enjoyable true story about the life of an artist, naturalist, and children’s author. Beatrix Potter was a brilliant, modern woman living in Victorian England. She remains the most successful classic children’s author of all time. Her stories have been translated into more than 30 languages and it’s hard to find a child anywhere who has not heard of Peter Rabbit and Benjamin Bunny. In addition to all that, the movie was beautifully made and filmed on location in the Lake District.
About thirty minutes into the movie, I noticed both of the boys starting to squirm and fuss. “Mommy,” Elijah said, “this movie is boring, no one is getting shot.” I couldn’t believe my ears. Has my 4 year old already been conditioned to only be entertained by violent movies? Are my children buying into that wretched part of American culture? Am I a failed mother? Where did we go wrong?
Or is it possible that my sons are not unlike the millions and millions of boys of the past, present and future? From toddler-hood they have been trying to kill themselves, and each other for that matter. My primary daily task as a mother has been to keep them alive. If they can climb on it, they will jump off it. They have made “guns” out of carrots, toothbrushes, and sticks. They pick up hamsters by the tail, throw rocks, play with fire, and slide down the stairs in sleeping bags. They get great pleasure out of irritating each other, their mom, dad, grandparents, teachers, and other children. Their life motto is, “Jump first, look second.”
As a marriage and family therapist I know that boys act like this because of the way they are neurologically wired and because of the influence of hormones that stimulate aggressive behavior. I wish I could say this knowledge has helped me when I’ve been at my wit’s end with them. It does give me some comfort though, that others have noticed this rascally behavior in boys.
Over 2,300 years ago Plato wrote, “Of all the animals, the boy is the most unmanageable.” And a little more recently, an insightful author told a tale of two little boys who couldn’t resist the temptation to risk everything by sneaking into Mr. McGregor’s garden just to steal a few vegetables. Their thoughtless, rambunctious actions nearly landed them in a pie. So, Elijah, I’m afraid “Miss Potter” doesn’t have any guns. But she does have a wonderful understanding of the nature of little boys. Thank you Beatrix for your astute perception and the creative way that you remind us that “Boys will be boys.”
Parents: A great website for your children to explore the world of Beatrix Potter with downloads, coloring pages, games, and of course stories is www.Peter Rabbit.com. Enjoy!
July 22nd, 2007 at 10:57 pm
LOL at this post! I can completely relate. I remember when Cole was around 2 years old he made a “gun” out of his waffle that he was eating for breakfast. Of course at this time his TV viewing was VERY limited and he didn’t have any toy guns yet. I remember thinking - how in the world did my innocent little boy know to turn his food into a weapon. But you’re right - boys will be boys. And after that I gave in and let daddy buy him toy guns. We now have an entire arsenal.
July 23rd, 2007 at 8:18 am
I know exactly how you feel. I have never bought a toy gun, or anything that resembled a gun for my boys, but they will make one out of anything !
July 23rd, 2007 at 10:18 am
How insightful to realize Peter Rabbit and Benjamin Bunny are little boys, not just bunnies. Beatrix Potter didn’t pull any punches. Her stories are not just cotton candy and fluff.
My favorite little boy is Tom Kitten. If you remember, though, his sisters got into nearly as much trouble as he !
And what about that Jemima Pudddleduck ! !
Auntie Jay
Ft. Worth Stock Yards
July 24th, 2007 at 11:01 pm
My mom and I just watched that movie, I thought her manerisms and how she was treated by her parents was very interesting, but other than that it wasnt very exciting.
July 25th, 2007 at 10:11 am
Sarah,
The movie was not full of action or excitement. But what was fascinating about “Miss Potter” is that is was a true story. Beatrix Potter lived in Victorian England, a time when little girls were not educated or expected to do much with their lives except get married and have children. And if you were not married by 20 you were an Old Maid!
She was a brilliant woman who did not conform to the structure of the society in which she was born. She followed her passions and left the confinement and rigidity of what was allowed for women. She broke into an industry that had always been dominated by men. She became a very wealthy and successful women by her own hard work and intelligence, not because she inherited it. She then bought large plots of land to prevent it from being developed and destroyed. When she died she gave all of that land in one large piece to the National Trust of England, which is somewhat like our National Parks Department.
Not only did she write and illustrate stories that have stood the test of time, but she was a biologist, naturalist, and a philanthropist. On top of all that, I thought the love story between her and her publisher was heart wrenching and tragic. This of course lent authenticity and a human element to the movie. The cinematography was breathtaking and the acting outstanding.
So, no “Miss Potter” was not a very exciting movie but it had so much Truth and Beauty.
Heather
P.S. When are you coming to visit next? You are welcome any time, I have a couple of free passes to Big Splash.
July 25th, 2007 at 2:55 pm
In this day of Harry, not Beatrix (Potter, that is) I suspect that it may take a person ‘of a certain age’…….say, over ten or twelve, to really appreciate the BIOGRAPHY , the love story, the amazing triumphs , or the realization of how much more DIFFICULT life was for this woman to achieve anything…it also takes a fair amount of understanding of our recent social history….
….. Miss Potter achieved so much, including much that was not included in the movie
…….it takes book reading to get the full story.
BOOKS?……talk about slow ! ! ….and oh, such a pleasure ! ! !