Introduction
The topic of death is a perennial fascination in literature. Despite its complexity and abstract nature, death is inevitable in life. However, there is a general perception that children’s literature, which is often viewed as a preparatory stage for adult literature, cannot effectively address such weighty themes. This essay will challenge this notion by analyzing three diverse children’s literature sub-genres: the fantasy classic Charlotte’s Web, the feminist fairy tale The Paper Bag Princess, and the Holocaust memoir Hana’s Suitcase.
By examining how death is presented in these texts and highlighting embedded ideologies, the argument is that children’s literature is not simply a stepping stone to the greater body of literature but a valuable and distinct genre in its own right. Through these texts, young readers are not only introduced to the inevitability of death. Still, they are also given the opportunity to experience it through different perspectives that will culminate in fostering a sense of empathy, thereby aiding in their socialization.
Theme of the Death
One of the main differences between the three texts is how they address the theme of death. Charlotte’s Web by Elwyn Brooks White, Hana’s Suitcase by Karen Levine, and The Paper Bag Princess by Robert Munsch address the theme of death by showcasing the impact of loss on characters’ lives. In the internal idea, the three works show different types of death. Charlotte’s Web tells the story of self-sacrifice using Charlotte the Spider as an example.
At the same time, Hana’s Suitcase talks about death directly, showing the young reader the fate of children caught in the Holocaust. The Paper Bag Princess touches on death only from the perspective of relationships, showing how the princess’s love for the prince disappears. The three texts provide an opportunity to explore the theme of death differently while also allowing them to understand the reality of the world around them.
Death: Literary Style
If the stories are considered from the side of literary style, then the differences in the illustration of death are visible in all the works taken for this essay. For instance, symbolism is a literary device that White, the author of Charlotte’s Web, utilizes to bring the topic of death into focus in the story (White 5). The author symbolizes self-sacrifice through the actions of Charlotte the spider, recounting her death and the life that continued afterward through the birth of new spiders.
In Hana’s Suitcase, there is also overt symbolism of the Holocaust era and death in the form of the suitcase itself, whose distinctive symbol is the inscription “Orphan Hana” in German. In addition, the author of Hana’s Suitcase added posthumous symbolism through the ending of the piece, where Hana’s brother says that her dream of becoming a teacher came true because her death story teaches future generations not to repeat the mistakes of the past (Levine 11).
A special symbolism of death is seen in The Paper Bag Princess, where death is not directly present. Instead, the author shows the gradual fading of love through the princess and the prince, who eventually go their separate ways.
Death: Illustration Style
The portrayal of death is a recurring theme in Charlotte’s Web, Hana’s Suitcase, and The Paper Bag Princess, with each work adopting a unique illustration style to convey the topic. The illustrations in Charlotte’s Web by Garth Williams provide a gentle and comforting feel, which contrasts with the themes of death and loss. The animals in the illustrations are depicted in a realistic and detailed manner, making them both cute and relatable. In contrast, the black-and-white photographs in Hana’s suitcases capture the sadness and horror of the Holocaust. The photographs add an extra layer of authenticity to the story, making it all the more powerful. They are stark and haunting, emphasizing the grim realities of death and loss.
On the other hand, The Paper Bag Princess features colorful and whimsical illustrations by Michael Martchenko, which reflect the book’s irreverent tone. The illustrations are expressive, with bright colors and bold lines, giving them a lively and energetic feel. The book uses humor to explore the message that life goes on after loved ones die. Despite their different illustration styles, all three books deal with death in a poignant and meaningful way.
Sympathy
The three books, Charlotte’s Web, The Paper Bag Princess, and Hana’s Suitcase, all deal with death in different ways to show sympathy towards children. In Charlotte’s Web, the death of the spider Charlotte is portrayed as a natural part of life but also a sad event that elicits sympathy from the young readers. How Wilbur the Pig mourns Charlotte’s death and continues to honor her memory reinforces the idea of the value of life and the importance of grief.
In The Paper Bag Princess, the dragon’s death is a turning point in the story that shows the emotional strength and resilience of the young protagonist, Princess Elizabeth. How she copes with the loss of her belongings, her fiance, and her plans for the future demonstrates the power of perseverance and determination.
In Hana’s Suitcase, the death of Hana and other children in the Holocaust is a tragic event that highlights the injustice and cruelty of the world. How the children in the present-day narrative of the book mourn Hana and seek to learn more about her life shows deep empathy for and an understanding of the impact of loss on children. Overall, these authors use death to convey important messages of empathy, resilience, and the value of life.
Socialization
The three analyzed texts have distinct approaches to exploring the concept of socialization and how it affects individuals. Charlotte’s Web shows socialization within a barnyard setting, with Wilbur the pig learning about behavior and communication with other animals and the importance of friendship, sacrifice, and community. Hana’s Suitcase, on the other hand, portrays socialization during the Holocaust, revealing the indoctrination methods of Nazi Germany and how the main characters, Hana and George, develop their sense of morality and compassion through their relationships with others (Johnson 15).
The Paper Bag Princess explores socialization through established gender norms and expectations. Princess Elizabeth challenges the traditional notion of waiting for a prince to save her and instead learns to think independently and resist gender stereotypes (Totibadze 12). By examining the messages about gender and identity daily, readers can cultivate their sense of self and agency, as the book encourages. These three texts provide unique insights into socialization and its impact on individuals in different contexts.
Children’s literature plays a significant role in the larger literature body and critical theory by shaping young minds and how they view the world. The literature exposes children to new ideas and perspectives necessary to build on their critical thinking skills. In this case, children’s literature enables young people to reimagine the world in a manner that allows them to focus on a better future. Many critical theories have emerged from studying children’s literature to comprehend the genre’s distinctive qualities and how it influences readers’ experiences. Readers who engage with the texts critically are likely to focus on making the world better for all rather than hating on others for being different.
Conclusion
While children’s literature is often seen as a preparatory stage for adult literature, this essay argues that it is a valuable and distinct genre in its own right. Given all the information gathered, this essay allows us to look at children’s literature from a new perspective. Books like Charlotte’s Web, Hana’s Suitcase, and The Paper Bag Princess can teach children complex and profound concepts from an early age. Children’s literature is essential in developing critical thinking skills, exposing children to new ideas, and encouraging empathy and socialization. Therefore, children’s literature should be recognized as an essential part of the larger literary body, shaping young minds and cultivating a love of reading that can last a lifetime.
Works Cited
Johnson, Wendell G. “Holocaust Literature for Children.” Journal of Religious & Theological Information, vol. 10, no. 1, 2022, pp. 1–17. Web.
Levine, Karen. Hana’s Suitcase: The Quest to Solve a Holocaust Mystery. Crown Books for Young Readers, 2016.
Munsch, Robert. The Paper Bag Princess. Annick Press, 2020.
Totibadze, Sopio. “Gender Stereotypes in Fairy Tales: A Case Study.” Online Journal of Humanities, vol. 5, no. 1, 2020, p. 12. Web.
White, Elwyn Brooks. Charlotte’s Web. Lemniscaat Publishers, 1999.