Alchemical Symbolism in Smurfs
Contributed by Talia.
I know that the generally accepted theory is that The Smurfs are Communists, but another possibility recently occurred to me. Could the Smurfs possibly be philosophers stones? That would explain a few things, for example, why Gargamel variously wants to eat them or to transform them into gold. When eaten, the philosophers stone is an elixir of life, but it can also be mixed with other elements to turn them into gold or silver. It is interesting that there are actually two colors of philosophers stone: white and red. The white stones were used to make silver, but only the red could make gold. Apparently, though, both could be eaten and produce similar effects. That explains the colors of the Smurfs’ clothes.
Papa Smurf is the only truly perfect one (gold being the perfect balance of all elements) and spends his time trying to perfect the other elements. The most obvious time he did this was when Smurfette was created by Gargamel to lure the others to him, and (if memory serves) once she decided to stay with the Smurfs, Papa Smurf replaced her heart, which was made of stone, with one of gold. Unless he actually cut her open and took out the old one, it was probably his ability to change one element to another that changed the substance. In changing that element, he also accidentally changed her hair to gold as well. Also of interest is the fact that Alchemy was not just the science of changing elements to perfection, but also of the Alchemist changing himself. Smurfette was already changing of her own will before Papa Smurf allowed her the gold heart. Gargamel, meanwhile, still has a long way to go, and this is why he has not been able to successfully obtain the stone(s) for his own use. He must balance all elements within himself before he can obtain them.
Back to Smurfette. She is still not perfect, shown by the fact that she still must wear white. It is because she is still unable to perfect the elements around her-in fact, at times, she actually corrupts them (like the episode where, suddenly, one day, all the other Smurfs are asking her to marry them. While I think it was partly due to outside forces, she made her suitors fight each other.) Additionally, she lacks the required balance of male and female elements-she’s far too feminine, as shown by her lifestyle.
Tags: alchemy, Gargamel, Papa Smurf, philosopher's stone, Smurfette, symbolism
May 10, 2008 at 11:29 pm
Strong, Jon M.
Freud on Seuss
The Cat in the Hat is a hard-hitting novel of poetry in which the author re-examines the rhyming schemes and bold imagery of some of his earlier works, most notably Green Eggs and Ham, If I Ran the Zoo, and Why Can’t I Shower With Mommy? In this novel, Theodore Geisel, writing under the assumed name of Dr. Seuss, pays homage to the great Dr. Sigmund Freud in a night-marish fantasy of a frisky feline helping two young children understand their own frustrated sexuality. This is the proof I have discovered that Children’s books aren’t quite what they seem.
The story opens with two youngsters, a brother and a sister, abandoned by their mother, staring mournfully through the window of their single-family house. In the foreground, a large tree (phallic symbol) dances wildly in the wind, taunting the children and encouraging them to succumb to the sexual yearnings they undoubtedly feel for each other. Even to the most unlearned reader the blatant references to the incestuous relationship the two share, sets the tone for Seuss’ probing examination of the satisfaction of primitive needs. The Cat proceeds to charm the wary youths into engaging in what he so innocently refers to as “tricks.” At this point, the fish (an obvious Christ figure who represents the prevailing Christian morality) attempts to warn the children, and thus, in effect, warns all of humanity of the dangers associated with the unleashing of the primal urges. In response to this, the cat proceeds to balance the aquatic nay-sayer on the end of his umbrella, essentially saying, “Down with morality; down with God!”
After poo-poohing the righteous rantings of the waterlogged Christ figure, the Cat begins to juggle several icons of Western culture, most notably two books, representing the Old and New Testaments, and a saucer of lacteal fluid, an ironic reference to maternal loss the two children experienced when their mother abandoned them “for the afternoon.” Our heroic Id adds to this bold gesture a rake and a toy man, and thus completes the Oedipal triangle.
Later in the novel, Seuss introduces the proverbial Pandora’s box, a large red crate out of which the Id releases Thing One, or Freud’s concept of Ego, the division of the psyche that serves as the mediator between the person and reality, and Thing Two, the Superego which functions to reward and punish through a system of moral attitudes, conscience, and guilt. Referring to this box, the Cat says, “Now look at this trick. Take a look!” In this, Dr. Seuss uses the children as a brilliant metaphor for the reader, and asks the reader to re-examine his own inner self.
The children, unable to control the Id, Ego, and Superego allow these creatures to run free and mess up the house, or more symbolically, control their lives. This rampage continues until the fish, or Christ symbol, warns that the mother is returning to reinstate the Oedipal triangle that existed before her abandonment of the children. At this point, Seuss introduces a many-armed cleaning device which represents the psychoanalytic couch, which proceeds to put the two youngsters’ lives back in order.
With powerful simplicity, clarity, and drama, Seuss reduces Freud’s concepts on the dynamics of the human psyche to an easily understood gesture. Mr. Seuss’ poetry and choice of words is equally impressive and serves as a splendid counter part to his bold symbolism. In all, his writing style is quick and fluid, making The Cat in the Hat impossible to put down. It is not until after multiple readings that the genius of this modern day master becomes apparent. In fact Mr. Suess’ seemingly simple style allows for him to easily and quickly instill his views in our youth. This proves exactly my point of the fact that Children’s books are not necessarily what they seem. Also, it shows just how easy it is for world domination through symbolism and subliminal messages in children’s books.
Works cited:
The Cat in the Hat by Dr. Seuss: NEW YORK, Beginner Books, $3.95, 61 Pages.
May 10, 2008 at 11:32 pm
It was a robot that had a heart of gold, which Gargamel replaced with a heart of stone. Smurfette was a burnette Papa Smurf turned into a blonde.
May 11, 2008 at 11:31 am
[...] blog cracks me up. Articles like From the archives: A Freudian Analysis of Beavis and Butt-Head or Alchemical Symbolism in Smurfs are terrifically fun to read. Some even point out real issues of culture and race, as in From the [...]
May 12, 2008 at 1:16 am
Wow, I never noticed any of that before.
But looking back, its obvious.
I must say, I love these over-analyzations