Should Wizard Hit Mommy (John Updike)
Main Character
Roger Skunk-A small creature, smell bad The Wizard - the old man, who does the magic spell and help Roger.
The owl - suggest Roger to go to the Wizard
Roger Skunk's mother- loves Roger Skunk, gets annoy with Roger's rose smell.
Brief Summary
Theme of Jack's Story: Jack used to relate his imaginary story to make her daughter Jo sleeps. The basic concept of the story always remained the same but Jack made little change to make it new. He started telling story to Jo when she was two year old. The story was always about an animal. There was the particular main character of the story named Roger. It could be Roger squirrel, Roger fish etc. In the story Roger had always trouble and to get rid of this he had t meet wise owl. The owl suggests him to go to the Wizard. Finally the Wizard solved the problem through his magic spell. For his service fhe Wizard always demanded more money than Roger had. Therefore the Wizard sent Roger a place where it could get the balance money. After getting money Wizard solved the problem of the Roger. After that the Roger became happy and all the animals played with him. Roger went to his house. In this way the story was ended. Jo used to sleep while listening to the story.
The Roger Skunk Story: Now Jo was almost four year old and started going to school. It was a Saturday evening and time for Jo's usual naps. This time she demanded her father to tell a story about a small animal. Jack was excited about narrating a new creature story. He said Roger Skunk lived in a deep forest. He smelt very bad therefore no other animal played with him. Most of the animals called him Stinky Skunk This word hurt him a lot and he wept silently. Jo felt very, bad about Skunk. She asked his father if skunk would not meet the wise owl. Now she was concerned and curious about Skunk.
Jack was to help his wife in the painting of woodwork. But he had to finish his story so he continued. He said that Skunk went to wise owl and told his problem. As usual owl suggested the Skunk to consult the Wizard. Suddenly Jo asked "Are magic spells real?". Now Jack started thinking that his daughter was growing. She wanted to know about everything. Jack replied her that magic spells are real in the stories only. Finally Skunk reached to the Wizard. He was a short height man and had a long white beard The Skunk told his problem to Wizard and request to help. The wizard asked Roger what he wanted to smell like. Roger wanted to smell like roses. The wizard chanted a magic spell and Roger started smelling like roses. The wizard demanded seven pennies but Skunk had only four pennies. The Wizard sent him to the magic well and told to take three round of the well. He mentioned by doing he would get balance pennies. Roger did so and found the pennies, and gave them to the wizard. Jo felt very happy. That day all the animals liked Roger smell and played with Roger.
The mother reaction: In the evening Roger reached at home but his mother became upset with his rose smell. Now she wanted his original smell back. Roger tried to make his mother understand that nobody liked his smell and did not play with him. His mother did not give her consent to keep rose smell. She did not listen any excuse of Roger, took umbrella and went to Wizard house. After reaching there she hit the wizard over his head with her umbrella. Once again the wizard turned Roger Skunk's smell bad. Both came back their home. She hugged Skunk as he smelled as usual. This was the end of the story.
Jo's reaction about ending the story: Jo did not like the ending of the story. According to her the Wizard should hit her back. She called her stupid mommy. Jack defended the mother. He said that mother knew what was the best for the Roger but she did not like her father logic. That night she neither laughed nar slept. Jack realized her point and felt that his daughter is growing. Jack returned downstairs to his wife. He felt guilty. looking around at the work she had completed. He found himself stuck in an ugly middle position. He could not convince his daughter and now his wife was upset with him. In the story author tried to express the authority of adult and curiosity of the child.
0 Comments