Dear Mili (Even as an agnostic Christian based tales can touch the soul)

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

Summary:

This fairy tale by Wilhelm Grimm, rediscovered in 1983, is prefaced by a short letter to "Mili," presumably a young girl much like the one in the story; what follows is a tale designed to teach children that life can be unpredictable. The story also demonstrates, however, that the unknown can sometimes provide shelter and security even when things are not familiar.

A young widowed mother, afraid for her daughter when the village they lived in was about to be attacked by invading warriors, sends the child to hide in the forest for three days. Alone and frightened, the girl loses her way, prays to God and is led to a little house tucked away in the woods where she meets a kind old hermit, Saint Joseph.

Three days (translated thirty years earth time) later, he decides it is time for the girl to return to her mother, whose dying wish is to see her daughter once more before death. Handing Mili a rosebud, he promises that after she meets her mother, she will be able to return: "Never fear. When this rose blooms, you will be with me again." The next morning the neighbors find the child and mother together, dead in their sleep.



It is noteworthy that many of Sendak's Polish relatives died in the Holocaust. Also of interest is Sendak's response to criticisms that his drawings are too scary: "Parents shouldn't assume children are made out of sugar candy and will break and collapse instantly. Kids don't. We do." (TIME, Dec 5, 1988 v30 n23 p74(1).




This fairy tale can be viewed from three different perspectives. First, there is the straightforward narrative of any good children's story. Second are themes central to Christianity, while a third perspective echoes the myth of Persephone and Demeter, which bears striking similarities to the fairy tale. As a young girl, Persephone becomes separated from her mother. Tricked by Hades, she is forced to spend a long time in the Underworld. In both myth and "Dear Mili," the girls confront the anxiety and fear that follows separation from their mothers, and both experience difficult journeys on their way back to them. Nature and the seasons play a part in both.

I just rediscovered this gem and if you enjoy Sendak and like a good cry, please find and read this book.






on edit: I just had to step outside politics for a bit. They are more depressiong than the tale itself.

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

1. Thanks, mods... Meant to post this here in the first place.

My bad and quick work!

:toast:

[savannahana]

2. thank you so much for this, TYJ

i needed to see something like this today.

nominated

:hi:

ana in KY

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

4. You're welcome. I remember reading this to my 4 year old daughter when

it first came out. Every time I read it, I bawled like a baby.

[spuddonna]

3. Thank you! I'd never heard of this story before...

I'm going to go look for it at the bookstore! (Or, now that I'm looking at my calendar, perhaps Amazon...)

And I love the quote: "Parents shouldn't assume children are made out of sugar candy and will break and collapse instantly. Kids don't. We do." (TIME, Dec 5, 1988 v30 n23 p74(1).

That's so true... :) And I love Sendak's drawings... My brother and I loved "Where the Wild Things Are". I grew up with a copy of the Grimm's Fairy Tales - they sure aren't Disney! lol

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

5. You won't be sorry. It's an anti-war story that will touch your soul.

Absolutely one of the most touching things I have ever read. Even if you don't have children, don't let that stop you from enjoying the story.

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

6. Kicking because you will kick yourself if you never read this story.