But the children love her. They love her rules and strictness and her otherness and unpredictable bursts of enchantment. She's like nothing they've ever known, a puzzle they are happy to discuss endlessly. They love her. There must be something to it.
I guess it depends on the audience and how it is met by them. I really enjoyed Disneys version of Mary Poppins as a kid, I found her to be so magical and interesting and fun. That is also the one I am used to so the book version of her just seemed too different (even though she is the original Mary Poppins).
In regards of the book version of her, I have seen both reactions in children, some love her weirdness, others find her just mean.
Sorry, I meant that the Banks children love her. Either, it is because she gives them something children need (strictness, rules, boundaries) that they didn't have before or because she tempers her apparent unkindness with a warmth that perhaps only they can discern. She does care about them. As I child I found her unsettling. She tilted the world. Other aspects of the book set the world straight, (such as conversations the babies have with the sun and the bird) but Mary herself was too much of a whirlwind. I didn't see the movie until years later and found the Julie Andrews character too nice. Weird huh!
I definitely agree that the Banks children like her because she gives them something they are missing in their lives, which is also a bit sad in its own way.
Personally I think, because I met the nice Mary Poppins first, the original version seems even more mean or scary - plus the fact that I read it as an adult, which also alters how you interpret a character. But it is funny to see how some children only see the fun parts of her, while others frown and are like, why is she so mean?
But the children love her. They love her rules and strictness and her otherness and unpredictable bursts of enchantment. She's like nothing they've ever known, a puzzle they are happy to discuss endlessly. They love her. There must be something to it.
I guess it depends on the audience and how it is met by them. I really enjoyed Disneys version of Mary Poppins as a kid, I found her to be so magical and interesting and fun. That is also the one I am used to so the book version of her just seemed too different (even though she is the original Mary Poppins).
In regards of the book version of her, I have seen both reactions in children, some love her weirdness, others find her just mean.
Sorry, I meant that the Banks children love her. Either, it is because she gives them something children need (strictness, rules, boundaries) that they didn't have before or because she tempers her apparent unkindness with a warmth that perhaps only they can discern. She does care about them. As I child I found her unsettling. She tilted the world. Other aspects of the book set the world straight, (such as conversations the babies have with the sun and the bird) but Mary herself was too much of a whirlwind. I didn't see the movie until years later and found the Julie Andrews character too nice. Weird huh!
I definitely agree that the Banks children like her because she gives them something they are missing in their lives, which is also a bit sad in its own way.
Personally I think, because I met the nice Mary Poppins first, the original version seems even more mean or scary - plus the fact that I read it as an adult, which also alters how you interpret a character. But it is funny to see how some children only see the fun parts of her, while others frown and are like, why is she so mean?
Interesting to see how a book can differ so much from a beloved film. I enjoyed reading this.
Thank you :)