The Disney version of life in the woods stands in sharp contrast with that of Felix Salten, which presents a far more ecologically and philosophically complex vision of nature. Although Saltens vision has its own limitations, comparing the two underscores the trouble with Disneys. Saltens Bambi found a very different world when, during his first walk in the forest, the fawn heard something rustle in the foliage. A thread-like, little cry shrilled out piteously; then all was still.... A ferret had caught a mouse. He came slinking by, slid sideways, and prepared to enjoy his meal. Bambi asked, What was that? but his mother answered only, Nothing. But, Bambi trembled, but I saw it. Yes, yes, answered his mother. Dont be frightened. The ferret has killed a mouse. When Bambi asked, Shall we kill a mouse, too, sometimes? No, his mother reassured him, Because we never kill anything. George Reiger has argued that this conversation underscores the books failure as a life history, because the mother avoided the whole issue of death by saying deer never kill anything. Also, she did not explain that ferrets must kill to live. She implied, he wrote, that such creatures have a choice--like man. It seems more reasonable, however, to interpret her response to Bambis questions as an effort to calm her very young child, who will soon learn more about such things. Reiger also noted that, because even foliage talks to itself in Bambi and apparently has a soul, if not an afterlife, Bambi does kill things by eating grasses and later destroying shrubs while thrashing the velvet from his antlers.(30) history.vt.edu/Barrow/Hist2104/readings/bambi.html
Posted on: Sat, 25 Jan 2014 04:53:13 +0000
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