Andrew Shin: Response to Mary Poppins

Mary Poppins by P. L. Travers certainly stands out as a work of upmost creativity and childish wonder. Personally, I have never read this novel before, but I have seen both the musical and movie. Mary Poppins as a character is dramatically different from her play and film portrayals. For one, her vanity is perhaps her defining characteristic in addition to her rudeness and whimsical nature. She has a dry sense of humor to her that is not lost on the children, yet she is quick to dismiss this part of herself.

Mary Poppins' character and personality is what drives the entertainment aspect of this book. However, deeper analysis of each chapter reveals a specific moral within each that children are meant to pick up on. There is an overarching Emersonian theme that is omnipresent: children see what adults cannot. Emerson wrote that the child's eye, having not been exposed to the ills of society, was more keen and therefore made the innocent youth wiser. The same can be said Jane and Michael in this collection of stories. Each day, they have an amazing adventure that challenges the bounds of the imagination. They can talk to animals and they can make themselves float just by laughing. And yet, after each adventure, Mary Poppins is quick to deny that anything out of the ordinary has occurred. The message here is that children should never give up on their imaginations, and the fact that adults may tell them otherwise should never discourage them.

In taking a closer look at the adults in this story, it could be argued that nothing really differentiates them from the children except for the fact that adults cannot see with their imagination. After all, the adults are neither mature nor responsible. Mrs. Banks is often observed crying over everything falling apart around her, despite her minimal efforts to avoid this scenario. Mr. Banks may have a job, but his own immaturity is especially highlighted when his old governess comes to visit. Overall, the adults are not at all role models for young readers. In fact, Michael and Jane, even given their occasional misbehaviors, are much more appealing in terms of people we might strive to be like.  Perhaps the idea is to always retain some aspects of childhood and youth, yet staying too snugly in the mold of a child may result in becoming like Mr. or Mrs. Banks.

As mentioned before, each chapter shares a new moral. For instance, the chapter about the king and dirty rascal communicates that wisdom can be gained from the most unexpected of places, and no one should be judged purely based on appearances. The laughing gas chapter suggests that with happiness is magical, so much so that it can make one fly. The last chapter is perhaps the most curious and significant one in terms of message. Mary Poppins leaves again, but in her place is a new shining star in the night sky. In that moment, Mary Poppins is no longer a character, but instead a symbol that can be present in all our lives. Everyone can have amazing adventures. The "Mary Poppins" element that encourages us to do so is pervasive and is accessible from anywhere.