Moomins by Tove Jansson Literary

Moomins by Tove Jansson

Literary Edutainment

To her credit, author Tove Jansson has largely succeeded in attempting, and achieving, a fairly ambitious undertaking in her widely successful Moomin series of books. That goal, of course, is to match a degree of compelling entertainment through the employment of didactic methods that are both educational and fun for readers of virtually all ages. In all of the books that she has written in this series, this unerring proclivity of the author to simultaneously educate and entertain is evinced most lucidly within Moominpappa's Memoirs. In this particular work of fiction, Moominpappa decides to recount some of the more salient adventures in his life to his son and to friends of his, who are able to derive both pleasure and the rudiments of wisdom from his far-fetched tales. An analysis of other books within the Moomin series further indicates that the themes that are celebrated and reinforced throughout Moominpappa's Memoirs, which encourage the virtues of creativity, autonomy, scientific development, as well as that of moral values, also appear in titles such as Tales from Moominvalley as well as Moominpappa at Sea, in which the author combines her well-defined penchant of presenting didactic messages to readers through various events and facets of entertainment.

There is little doubt that one of the primary reasons that Jansson began writing this immensely popular series, and Moominpappa's Memoirs in particular, is to present tales of substance that are both instructional and fun to experience. In fact, Moominpappa's initial impetus for recounting his memoirs is that he is alarmed by negative developments in his personal health (he has a cold) and wants to ensure that a plethora of listeners, which include his son Moomintroll as well as Moomintroll's pals Sniff and Snuffkin, are able to reap the benefits of his previous experience which demonstrate the values of the novel's themes. Still, there are numerous facets of those actual tales themselves that indicate that learning is fun and that it is fun to learn, which the following quotation, in which Moominpappa and his friend Hodgkins encounter a young child (a Nibling) readily demonstrates. "Do you like educational games?" Hodgkins asked cautiously. "I love them!" said the Nibling. I sat down and didn't know what to say" (Jansson 147). This quotation is highly significant for the fact that it demonstrates the enthusiasm and verve that a young child -- which is the general demographic that Jansson wrote this work for, as well as for early adolescents -- has for the combination of learning and having fun at the same time. Although the particular form of didactic fun alluded to within this quotation pertains to a game, these same values are applicable to Moominpappa's tales in general, since they aim to achieve the same ends. Furthermore, Moominpappa's disbelief at the Nibling's desire to learn while having fun (he does not "know" what to think of the child's enthusiasm) underscores the fact that as a young person himself, Moominpappa initially resisted formal pedagogy. However, the Nibling's verve for learning illustrates the value in educational learning, which is also manifest in these tales he tells his child and to Moomintroll's friends.

One of the most important didactic messages that young people gain from Moominpappa's Memoirs is that they should pursue their ambitions, and relish in the autonomy required to do so. The largely transient nature of this text -- Moominpappa and his friends wander around getting into various adventures and misadventures -- attests to the fact that people should pursue their dreams and goals. It is because of his desire to assert his autonomy that Moominpappa decides to run away from the Moomin Foundling Home, while the emphasis on creativity and the liberty required to actuate it is also suggested by the occupation of Moominpappa's friend Hodgkins, who is an inventor. The following quotation, in which Moominpappa has returned with Hodkin's nephew, the Muddler, to his home only to find an intruder there (the Joxter), demonstrates the values of autonomous behavior that Jansson presents to her young readers.

"Hello!" I said threateningly.

"Hello yourself!" said the Joxter (for it was he).

"Why did you enter my house?" I continued.

The Joxter took his pipe from his mouth and explained genially: "Because you had locked the door."

"Sure that's him all over!" cried the Muddler. "He likes everything you mustn't do. He's always fighting policemen and laws and traffic signs" (Jansson).

There are little doubts that Joxter is a character that personifies the degree of autonomy that Moominpappa's adventures largely represent. He chooses to do that which he pleases, whether it is entering the house of a stranger unannounced or protesting his behavior against the likes of "policemen" and "traffic signs." However, the comedic nature of this episode, which is underscored by the irony of the "threateningly" nature of the greeting announced by Moominpappa to the Joxter, and the other's friendly ("genially" explanation for his intrusion, also belies a sense of innocence and that such expressions of autonomy are merely aids in the pursuit of adventure -- especially since Joxter ends up being one of Moominpappa's best friends in this, and other subsequent books in the series.

What is one of the most interesting aspects of the virtues of autonomous thought and behavior that is directed towards a young audience in Moominpappa's Memoirs is that there is a definite element of subversion inherently imbued in these values. Opposing policemen and traffic signs -- both of which represent integral aspects of the law -- not only exemplifies an assertion of independence, but also of subversive behavior as well. Yet the author is able to temper this subversive aspect of the widely regarded autonomy and independence revered within the text by demonstrating it within a context that children can understand and will not misinterpret as justification for misanthropic behavior. The following quotation, in which the Joxter is relaxing while his friends are hard at work, demonstrates Jansson's prudent application of the subversion that may imbue autonomy. "Isn't he going to help?" I asked (because I was still a little cross with him). "Born lazy," explained Hodkings. "Has to be forbidden to lend a hand. Then does it…Maybe" (Jansson). Hodgkins and Moominpappa are talking about the Joxter's lack of assistance in their endeavor. The negative aspect of one choosing to follow one's own inclinations is evinced by the "lazy" nature of the Joxter's lack of participation in this passage. However, it is important to note that this laziness is balanced by the Joxter's propensity for helping (or to "lend a hand") if he wants to, once he has been "forbidden" to help. Therefore, the Joxter does actually help people in need, which presents a didactic measure to people that the subversive aspects of the pursuit of individual freedom is not entirely negative.

Moreover, it is highly interesting to note that Jansson actually cautions readers against the negativity associated with an assertion of autonomous behavior in Tales from Moominvalley, which is a collection of short stories about many of the characters in this series. Moominpappa. The tale about Moominpappa is more blatantly didactic than that of some of the other characters. In this story, Moominpappa again runs away from home in an expression of autonomous independence that he is well noted for. However, as the exploits in his misadventures indicate, there are limits to the good achieved via autonomous behavior which is thinly veiled between benignness and malignancy. The following quotation, in which Moominpappa reflects on the discontent associated with his nearing if not crossing that threshold between positive autonomy and its negative counterpart, presents this fact in clear terms that younger readers can easily discern "If this is a wicked life I'd rather eat my hat." Such a quotation cautions younger readers from engaging in blatantly delinquent behavior as an expression of autonomy.