As posted on what Sabina said: I agree with this opinion very much, but to add even more on that, I think that another turning point in the story is when Matt comes to the forest to take Ronia home.Not only that, but he lest Birk come to his home whenever he likes. This showsus that even though Matt was childish, he came to accept the fact that he could not tell Ronia what to do anymore; she was her own person, and he had to accept that. The fact that he let Birk visit whenever he pleased, also showed that he understood that even though Borka was his enemy, Birk did not have to be because it was not his fault that his father was Matt's enemy. Overall, I think Matt changed the most in the story, because he came to realize that just because one has enemy, does not necessarily mean that one's children will be enemies with the enemy's children
One of the greatest turning points in Ronia, The Robber's Daughter is the episode when Ronia guides Birk through the woods, and is ultimately saved by him from The Unearthly Ones. From the moment Ronia found out who Birk was, until this instance, she has been clouded over by the beliefs on which she was raised. Only sentences before, she associates Birk with his "thieving people" and now, suddenly, it's "difficult to think really badly of him." What happened in that brief interlude, in the short span of time that so changed Ronia's mind? Ronia was overpowered by Birk, she was finally vulnerable to him and, in being so, got to let him in. For the first time she clearly sees the essential goodness of Birk,the Birk who wants to save an innocent girl's life, the Birk who is not taken by stigmas and societal norms. All the while they are surrounded by a physical cloud because they still live within confusion...in fact, this turning point instigates Ronia's confusion. It's what inspires Ronia to ask Matt about his profession the following morning, it's what reveals to Ronia the error in her father's belief system, it's what builds toward the feelings the two children feel after Birk again saves Ronia's life, and to their deeming each other 'brother' and 'sister'. (Note that the relationship between the boy and girl is constantly see-sawing...there is a consistent role-reversal, so ultimately both children are equal heroes...while there are a few 'damsel in distress' scenes, there are also very strong female heroine scenes, such as when Birk is captured and Ronia gives herself over to the other side to free him.) Also, speaking of turning points...I also believe that the children's taming of Savage and Villain mirrors their taming of Matt and Borka. Even the horses' names bespeak the characters of the two men. The children ..."tried to approach Villain and Savage, speaking gently to them, but with no result. Neither Villain nor Savage understood kindness; they made off, running lightly, to graze somewhere else, where they could be left in peace." This can allude to the fathers' obstinance and refusal to let go of what they were naturally inclined to believe (by their upbringing). After the horses are tamed, so are the men.
Referring to what Rachel W. posted, I have to agree that the scene with Birk in the forest fighting off the Unearthly Ones begins this spiraling of events that cause Ronia, and in fact Birk as well, to emerge as child heroes. Ronia had been blinded by what Matt had told her about the Borkas until that scene, much like the reader (as a child thinking) would think of the Borkas as evil. And then appears this heartfelt act by Birk. He is no longer heartless and evil and murderous and the "other," to Ronia but rather spawns a relationship of brother and sister. It's in the forest that they discover kindness rather than evil as in the earlier fairy tales we had read. Similarly, they return to the forest for salvation and "safety" from their feuding fathers, rather than being thrown into the forest to fend for themselves. These are older children who can care for themselves. An interesting fact that emerged that was although they were brother and sister they maintained the roles of husband and wife in Ronia's eyes as Matt & Lovis and in Birk's eyes as Borka and Undis. These children showed their own agnecy to take on the roles of adults when put into dire and lonesome situations. At home, Ronia did not need to play the role of the Lovis, because Lovis was there. Similarly, children today don't necessarily have to clean or cook or do laundry because mommy will do it, but once you move out on your own you will tend to do it yourself. The child does not necessarily not know how to do these household chores, nor does he or she not want to, its simply that he or she doesn't have to, but when you have to fend for yourself you find the ability to do so. And once the veil of "robber-ism" fell in the eyes of Ronia and Birk, which happens early in the story but does not become explicit in the end, they take on housely duties and with their own actions.
One of the aspects of Ronia that I love so much, and that Astrid Lindgren demonstrates so subtly and beautifully, is that the very qualities that cause Matt such frustration in Ronia are the qualities he has instilled in her himself. In the great quote at the end of chapter one, Matt demonstrates to Ronia the trust he has in her ability to figure out the world on her own. He has given her guidelines for life in the forest, and continues to step in when Ronia needs him, but his belief that he and Lovis have taught Ronia well is solid. The independence and love given Ronia by her parents is the buttress that supports her when Ronia leaves home for Birk. So, for me, while there are many turning points in the story (which is what makes it such a rich and layered tale), the one I find the most compelling is Ronia’s decision to leave Matt’s Fort. Matt feels betrayed and hurt, but what I believe brings him to the Bear’s Cave in the end is his recognition that had Ronia made a different decision, she would not have been the daughter he wanted to raise. She is confident, adventurous, and self-sufficient. Matt asks Ronia to come home, “‘Am I your child now, Matt? Am I really your child again?’” Ronia asks. “‘Yes, as you have always been, my Ronia!’”(153). At the end of the story Matt gives Ronia the greatest gift a parent can give a child: independence. Ronia is her own person, but she is a result of the gifts given by Lovis and Matt.
As posted on what Sabina said:
ReplyDeleteI agree with this opinion very much, but to add even more on that, I think that another turning point in the story is when Matt comes to the forest to take Ronia home.Not only that, but he lest Birk come to his home whenever he likes.
This showsus that even though Matt was childish, he came to accept the fact that he could not tell Ronia what to do anymore; she was her own person, and he had to accept that. The fact that he let Birk visit whenever he pleased, also showed that he understood that even though Borka was his enemy, Birk did not have to be because it was not his fault that his father was Matt's enemy.
Overall, I think Matt changed the most in the story, because he came to realize that just because one has enemy, does not necessarily mean that one's children will be enemies with the enemy's children
One of the greatest turning points in Ronia, The Robber's Daughter is the episode when Ronia guides Birk through the woods, and is ultimately saved by him from The Unearthly Ones. From the moment Ronia found out who Birk was, until this instance, she has been clouded over by the beliefs on which she was raised. Only sentences before, she associates Birk with his "thieving people" and now, suddenly, it's "difficult to think really badly of him." What happened in that brief interlude, in the short span of time that so changed Ronia's mind? Ronia was overpowered by Birk, she was finally vulnerable to him and, in being so, got to let him in. For the first time she clearly sees the essential goodness of Birk,the Birk who wants to save an innocent girl's life, the Birk who is not taken by stigmas and societal norms. All the while they are surrounded by a physical cloud because they still live within confusion...in fact, this turning point instigates Ronia's confusion. It's what inspires Ronia to ask Matt about his profession the following morning, it's what reveals to Ronia the error in her father's belief system, it's what builds toward the feelings the two children feel after Birk again saves Ronia's life, and to their deeming each other 'brother' and 'sister'. (Note that the relationship between the boy and girl is constantly see-sawing...there is a consistent role-reversal, so ultimately both children are equal heroes...while there are a few 'damsel in distress' scenes, there are also very strong female heroine scenes, such as when Birk is captured and Ronia gives herself over to the other side to free him.)
ReplyDeleteAlso, speaking of turning points...I also believe that the children's taming of Savage and Villain mirrors their taming of Matt and Borka. Even the horses' names bespeak the characters of the two men. The children ..."tried to approach Villain and Savage, speaking gently to them, but with no result. Neither Villain nor Savage understood kindness; they made off, running lightly, to graze somewhere else, where they could be left in peace." This can allude to the fathers' obstinance and refusal to let go of what they were naturally inclined to believe (by their upbringing). After the horses are tamed, so are the men.
Referring to what Rachel W. posted, I have to agree that the scene with Birk in the forest fighting off the Unearthly Ones begins this spiraling of events that cause Ronia, and in fact Birk as well, to emerge as child heroes. Ronia had been blinded by what Matt had told her about the Borkas until that scene, much like the reader (as a child thinking) would think of the Borkas as evil. And then appears this heartfelt act by Birk. He is no longer heartless and evil and murderous and the "other," to Ronia but rather spawns a relationship of brother and sister. It's in the forest that they discover kindness rather than evil as in the earlier fairy tales we had read. Similarly, they return to the forest for salvation and "safety" from their feuding fathers, rather than being thrown into the forest to fend for themselves. These are older children who can care for themselves. An interesting fact that emerged that was although they were brother and sister they maintained the roles of husband and wife in Ronia's eyes as Matt & Lovis and in Birk's eyes as Borka and Undis. These children showed their own agnecy to take on the roles of adults when put into dire and lonesome situations. At home, Ronia did not need to play the role of the Lovis, because Lovis was there. Similarly, children today don't necessarily have to clean or cook or do laundry because mommy will do it, but once you move out on your own you will tend to do it yourself. The child does not necessarily not know how to do these household chores, nor does he or she not want to, its simply that he or she doesn't have to, but when you have to fend for yourself you find the ability to do so. And once the veil of "robber-ism" fell in the eyes of Ronia and Birk, which happens early in the story but does not become explicit in the end, they take on housely duties and with their own actions.
ReplyDeleteOne of the aspects of Ronia that I love so much, and that Astrid Lindgren demonstrates so subtly and beautifully, is that the very qualities that cause Matt such frustration in Ronia are the qualities he has instilled in her himself. In the great quote at the end of chapter one, Matt demonstrates to Ronia the trust he has in her ability to figure out the world on her own. He has given her guidelines for life in the forest, and continues to step in when Ronia needs him, but his belief that he and Lovis have taught Ronia well is solid. The independence and love given Ronia by her parents is the buttress that supports her when Ronia leaves home for Birk. So, for me, while there are many turning points in the story (which is what makes it such a rich and layered tale), the one I find the most compelling is Ronia’s decision to leave Matt’s Fort. Matt feels betrayed and hurt, but what I believe brings him to the Bear’s Cave in the end is his recognition that had Ronia made a different decision, she would not have been the daughter he wanted to raise. She is confident, adventurous, and self-sufficient. Matt asks Ronia to come home, “‘Am I your child now, Matt? Am I really your child again?’” Ronia asks. “‘Yes, as you have always been, my Ronia!’”(153). At the end of the story Matt gives Ronia the greatest gift a parent can give a child: independence. Ronia is her own person, but she is a result of the gifts given by Lovis and Matt.
ReplyDelete