The Story of Peter Rabbit

Author: [British] Beatrix Potter, translated by Liu Qiao
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-07-01
Features: The American Council of Learned Societies is the largest sponsor of humanities programs in the United States, with its members being seasoned scholars nominated by the President and confirmed by the Senate. Since 1988, the foundation has recommended a collection of over 300 books, "Summer Favorites," to young Americans, most of which are world-class classics or children's classics, and many of which are award-winning works. In September 2002, President Bush announced the launch of a new reading initiative by the foundation, and Congress allocated $100 million over three years for it. Unforgettable childhood and the memories of its joys and sorrows will stay with us for a lifetime. When childhood fades into memory, the vivid animal protagonists in the works of British writer Potter once again awaken my sleeping childhood. Potter uses her rich imagination and bold, exaggerated style to vividly personify animals. Apart from their fur, these animals live just like humans. Readers sometimes laugh at the mischievousness of the animals, while at other times, they ponder the profound lessons derived from the small stories. Those lifelike animals leap before our eyes and linger in our hearts. The Tale of the Tailor of Gloucester creates a fairy-tale atmosphere of Christmas morning miracles. In the story, the little cat who depends on the poor old tailor of Gloucester becomes furious and turns against him when the tailor releases the mouse he caught, losing a hearty meal in the process. The cat secretly hides the silk thread the tailor urgently needs, causing the tailor's frantic efforts to make the mayor's wedding gown to come to nothing, and shattering the tailor's dream of earning money to feed his family. The tailor is exhausted and falls ill. But the kind little mouse works tirelessly, collectively sewing the gown for the old tailor day and night. The cat feels ashamed of herself and finally bravely admits her mistake. At this point, readers of all ages feel a touch of emotion in their hearts. The Tale of Squirrel Nutkin emphasizes the importance of being polite and grateful in life through the experience of the little red squirrel Nutkin losing his tail. Stories carry messages, but in Potter's works, there is no trace of the hypocrisy or dryness of moralizing. Because while she endows her animal characters with human intelligence and emotions, she also preserves their innocence and naivety. This is the unique charm of Potter's work. In The Tale of Benjamin Bunny, the rabbit Benjamin and Peter are trapped under a vegetable basket by a big cat for several long hours. The fear of being discovered by the garden owner, the anxiety and worry of parents coming to look for them because they played too long, and the pungent smell of onions—these discomforts all blend together, making the suffering feel like time passing excruciatingly slowly. What makes it worse is that Benjamin's father, holding a small whip, searches for his son who is late in returning. The father's confident stride contrasts sharply with the son's trembling fear, creating a dramatic effect. Many adults have not forgotten similar experiences from their own childhood. We may still reflect today that if we had listened to the adults' advice back then, perhaps we wouldn't have sighed, "The past is unbearable to look back on." Thus, when faced with young children who have little life experience, the adults who are now parents take a serious tone, reminding their children to learn from the mischievous little rabbit. The Tale of Peter Rabbit also achieves the same effect. Stories like these have been passed down from generation to generation. Potter's tales are witty and humorous, free of any artificiality. Her language is concise, vivid, and full of rhythm. Through the stories of various animals, Potter praises friendship, loyalty, kindness, and wisdom, while mocking, , , and . For over a century, Potter's stories have been published in over 100 countries, planting seeds of love and beauty in the hearts of billions of children. Potter's works transcend time and borders, earning the recognition of readers across generations.