The establishment of values and beliefs is a popular motif in both children and adult literature. Despite the superficial differences in narrative and manner of delivery, these stories are usually similar in their core premise. The following paper compares two such works, Surprised by Joy and The Wild Things.
Surprised by Joy is an autobiographical book that describes the author’s gradual conversion to Christianity. However, the narrative does not employ a highly accurate and objective approach characteristic for the genre of autobiography – instead, the author selectively describes the events, decisions, and phenomena that he felt had contributed to his faith. This supposedly sets his book apart from work by Eggers, which follows the entire adventure experienced by the protagonist and provides an exhaustive account instead of episodic treatment.
Nevertheless, it is important to understand that The Wild Things describes the fictional events, giving the author an opportunity to choose the events and situations that support his ideas, whereas Surprised by Joy is confined to a fixed number of events from the author’s life. Since the latter is not a historical document, but rather a justification of the author’s views and beliefs, it is reasonable to expect such selective treatment of facts based on their impact. Thus, it would be safe to say that despite the fragmentary narrative and low historical accuracy, the book’s structure works in favor of the author’s intention of explaining his transformation.
As can be seen from the title, the author’s main intent is to provide a detailed account of his search for “joy,” which apparently refers to tranquility and the comprehension of transcendental experience beyond the scope of earthly concerns. Unsurprisingly, the author does not provide a clear explanation of the concept – instead, he draws comparisons from the existing literature, suggesting that “Milton’s ‘enormous bliss’ of Eden (giving the full, ancient meaning to ‘enormous’) comes somewhere near it” (Lewis 16). Lewis describes the experience as a series of fleeting moments that left him in a strange state of longing for some elusive concept.
After a brief feeling of bliss, “the world turned commonplace again,” prompting Lewis to seek this state (Lewis 16). In fact, the author apparently considers this experience a central driving force of his entire life, as, according to his explanation, joy “has one characteristic indeed, and one only, in common with them; the fact that anyone who has experienced it will want it again…” (Lewis 18). Thus, in a way, the author describes a journey in search of inner harmony that was lost in an early age after the death of his mother and gradually regained as he slowly accepted the idea of Absolute, Spirit, and, eventually, God (Lewis 237). This concept of a journey through maturity has subtle similarities to the ideas laid out in the book by Eggers despite the superficial differences.
The figures that accompany the development of Lewis’ personality are, for the most part, real people. Aside from the family, one of the most important figures in the book is William Kirkpatrick, the author’s tutor. Interestingly, William is described as an atheist, which makes it tempting to dismiss him as a contributor to the author’s spirituality. However, it is evident that Lewis’ reasoning skills, and, in fact, his ceaseless longing for ultimate truth, can be attributed to William. An equally important figure is Owen Barfield, with whom Lewis engaged in lengthy debates on the origins of God and the supernatural (Lewis 199). Thus, it can be argued that the formation of the protagonist’s views is facilitated primarily through interaction with his peers, especially in the cases where his preconceived notions are challenged by a conflicting view.
The Wild Things is an adaptation of Maurice Sendak’s Where the Wild Things Are by Dave Eggers. The book takes a more realistic approach than the source of its inspiration by meticulously depicting the protagonist’s surroundings and adding the details that unmistakably link the events to the contemporary culture. Nevertheless, it is apparent that the central theme – an uncertainty of childhood and a ceaseless search for a place of happiness – is similar to Surprised by Joy.
The author takes a relatively straightforward approach to the narrative, which is common for children’s literature (Cadden 45). The events are laid out in a chronological manner and proceed at a relatively even pace. Technically, it is possible to identify two segments to the story – a short segment depicting the real world followed by the main part that describes the protagonist’s escape and subsequent adventures in the magical land populated by strange creatures. It is worth noting that while the approach is different from that used in Surprised by Joy, there is a striking similarity between the two. Specifically, the land of Boxen, created by Lewis at the age of eight and populated by anthropomorphic animals, probably serves the same purpose – namely, an attempt to find meaning in the surrounding world by resorting to the metaphor of a magical world (Lewis 79). Therefore, it can be argued that the magical journey undertaken by Max is used as a direct reference to the transition from a child into an adult. While the scope of the book leaves the latter segment out of the narrative, the general principle is largely the same.
Unlike Lewis, who specifies the direction of his search both in the title and throughout the book, Max seems to go down his path without an apparent goal. However, it is probable that his quest is guided by a similar purpose – an escape from calamities of his everyday life. This motif is especially prominent in the scene where Max rediscovered his old wolf suit, which “seemed to be calling to him. It’s time, it was saying to Max” (Eggers 68). In a similar manner, the boat that was conveniently washed ashore the same day “was his if he wanted it” (Eggers 81). While the book deals with only a fraction of the protagonist’s lifespan, it represents its most vivid and emotionally challenging part.
The main characters are beasts populating the imagined land. Each of them serves as a representation of a recognizable feature of a child’s character, such as brutality (Bull), sentiment (Alexander), and cynicism (Judith). One particular Wild Thing, Katherine, likely represents a motherly figure who saves him from being eaten and eventually contributes to his return home (Eggers 269). Thus, in a sublime manner, the imaginary peers contribute to Max’s recognition of home as a place of comfort and, by extension, the formation of his views.
On the surface, the two books belong to different genres and use a different approach to narrative and characters. However, the underlying theme of the formation of identity is apparent in both works. In the same manner, peers play an important role in the protagonists’ development by exposing them to challenging views and situations. Overall, despite superficial differences, both books can be considered the examples of an account of forming mature values and beliefs.
Works Cited
Cadden, Mike, editor. Telling Children’s Stories: Narrative Theory and Children’s Literature. University of Nebraska Press, 2010.
Eggers, Dave. The Wild Things. Vintage Books, 2009.
Lewis, Clive Staples. Surprised by Joy. Harvest Book, 1955.