Literary Review

Literary Review﹕Calvin and Hobbes
Not your ordinary children's book

Some famous Calvin and Hobbes strips are clearly meant for adults, if only because they contain references that are incomprehensible (難懂) to children. In one strip, Calvin issues an artist's statement that contains the German word Weltanschauung, which he appropriately misspells. In other instances, he speaks more like an adult. He describes his sculpture as speaking to "the horror of our mortality, inviting the viewer to contemplate (思想) the evanescence of life (人生無常)". At any other time, he asks of his father, "Dad, are you vicariously (有感地) living through me in the hope that my accomplishment (成就) will validate (肯定) your mediocre (平凡的) life and in some way compensate (補償) for all of the opportunities you botched (搞垮)?" These are difficult words for any child to understand.

In addition to the use of these isolated words and utterances (言辭), Calvin and Hobbes also exhibits adult sensibilities in some other ways. Hobbes has an important role to play in this regard. While Calvin acts the childish way, as is appropriate for his age, Hobbes stands by to watch and makes sardonic (譏諷的) observations. In his characteristic wry (幽默的、諷刺的) manner, Hobbes comments one time that human beings are coming under the control more and more. Calvin appears to listen, but the words do not seem to leave any impression on him, for he quickly exclaims, "I'll say. Hey! What time is it? My TV show is on!", before jumping up to watch his favourite programme. The irony (諷刺) of the situation is apparently lost on him.

Unlike other political cartoonist, Bill Watterson seldom makes direct mention of political figures in Calvin and Hobbes, but he does not shy away from political issues, especially about election and polls. One cannot but wonder how much a child can get out of satire (諷刺作品) of this kind.

(Part 3)

Fai returned to Hong Kong this summer after living in the US for 26 years. He still finds things in Hong Kong strange and exciting at the same time. He now works at the Chinese University of Hong Kong.

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