She remembers how her friends reacted, so she responds with how much she despises lima beans. Either way, the old lady’s cure is… lima beans.Īt first, Camilla is reluctant to eat the beans. She could represent Camilla’s conscious or she could be that one friend that truly knows what is best for us. Now the old lady can be interpreted in many different ways. She reaffirms the potency of conformity, and again, the stripes represent social patterns. When the old lady sees Camilla, she says somewhere along the lines of, “This is the worst case of stripes I’ve seen.” In my opinion, I am inferring that this old lady too has been a victim of conformity and has dealt with others. Old people are commonly characterized as being wise with age. If we look at Carl Jung’s theory of archetypes, we can easily identify this woman as your stereotypical wise senior. The old lady who claims to know how to get Camilla back is symbolic, almost archetypal. But one person manages to successfully get Camilla to be herself again. So many have tried yet so many have failed. After, the two claim they will have the results in later, but really, they are just as ignorant as the doctors.Īfter many vain attempts, Camilla and her poor parents are confident she will never be the same. The two experts poke and prod at Camilla, trying to find some clues. Since the 18th century, we have looked down on and treated people with problems like experiments and animals. Also, another problem with today’s society is how we treat and see people with disorders and disabilities. Bumble then calls in two “experts.” Whatever makes these two so qualified surely does not show. Instead of examining subjectively, they automatically make objective observations. Doctors can easily give the wrong diagnosis, as shown here, and most of the time they do not in fact know what is best. Each of the four doctors confirms his inability to discern her problem. Bumble, is unable to identify Camilla’s condition, so he calls in several “professionals.” These stereotypical scientists decked out in white coats begin to study Camilla. Doctors like to act as though they know everything and subsequently know what is best. Recently this idea has become more widespread. The next point I’d like to make about today’s society is the idea that all doctors and specialists nowadays are seen as all-knowing and expertly qualified. Since she is predisposed to suggestion, she does as she is told and conforms further to the ever-increasing patterns. These patterns and stripes represent the literal patterns of society. Different patterns appear spontaneously, a metaphor demonstrating the effects of social pressuring. As the children cry out, Camilla finds her skin changing with each comment. Bullying is a horrible thing and Camilla is left to deal with it. Kids begin to shout out different colors and patterns mockingly. When she goes to school, Camilla finds herself the victim of countless verbal disparagements. The power of peer-pressure is not to be underestimated, for adolescents such as Camilla, like sheep, will blindly follow.Ĭamilla’s uncertainty is shown when metaphorical stripes cover Camilla’s skin head to toe. Camilla thus wants to “belong” with her friends, even if it means giving up her favorite thing. During this time, individuals are malleable and easily influenced by others. Stanley Hall theorized, adolescence is a required period of time in which a child transitions from a child to an adult. Because her friends find beans repulsive, Camilla finds she must too. The first mistake Camilla makes is conforming to her friends’ standards. Camilla likes lima beans but her friends do not. While I am not certain whether she is in middle school or not, I will go ahead and make the assumption that she is. So today I will be discussing and analyzing the subjects of conformity and peer-pressure, identity and existentialism, and construct of specialty.Ĭamilla Cream is your average student. Whether it was David Shannon’s intention or not, his book is secretly teaching children about philosophy and psychology when they read it without even knowing. I am not entirely sure how the thought got to me, but upon reviewing the book, I found that there were some very profound and contemporary themes woven throughout the plot and characterization. In elementary school I remember reading a book called A Bad Case of Stripes.
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