What makes Jack feel caught in an ugly middle position?

Jack is really caught in an ugly middle position because he is divided into two different difficult situations. He is unable to run away from the harsh realities of life rather he has to acclimatise himself in accordance with the prevailing conditions. He has to manage his family consisting of two children, a daughter Jo and her brother Bobby. Thus, Jack is entangled in two worlds. The first world belongs to Roger Fish, Roger Squirrel or Roger Chipmunk. He is telling the story of a wise owl and the Wizard with a magic wand.

The world upstairs consists of his children, Jo and Jack. Jo has raised questions that the Wizard should hit the mommy and not vice-versa. Jack is unable to satisfy her since he is much cautious about the downside world where his wife Clare is doing the work of painting. The household items are lying scattered. She is pregnant and labouring hard. He must go downstairs to help her. In this way Jack is caught in an ugly middle situation between the romantic world of tales and the real world downstairs.

It is very important to note that the children have a very different view on life than that of the adults. They dream and live in their own magical world. They are devoid of despise, ugliness and petty differences. Consequently Jo does not like the ending that Mommy should hit the Wizard. Rather she wants that the Wizard should hit the mommy for her failure to realise as well as understand the problems of Skunk. She calls her “Stupid Mommy” and insists for a change in the story.

Since Roger Skunk is the hero of the story, Jo does not want her hero to face any complications. She does not imagine Roger Skunk so ugly and stinky. She has got every sympathy for Skunk. She thinks it unfair on the part of Skunk's mommy to go and get Roger smell bad again. She wants the ending must be changed.

Tips: -

Imp.

In the Roger Skunk's story ‘Should Wizard Hit Mommy’, we can note that it provides two possible endings. In the first place, Roger Skunk is made to smell like roses by the Wizard through his magical wand. He should retain the same smell as he needs the company of other animals to play with them. But his mother is deeply enraged at this ‘awful smell’. Consequently, she sees the Wizard and hits him right over the head who changes Roger Skunk to his original bad smell again. Jo likes that Roger Skunk should retain the rose smell and the Wizard should hit that stupid mommy hard. Jo does not like that the mommy should hit the Wizard.

But the plot line demands that Jack's ending is appropriate. It is quite logical that a child never stinks for a mother. Other animals may keep away from Skunk due to bad smell but the mother can't do that since the original smell of the boy's body arouses motherly affection in her. She is not at all in a mood that Roger Skunk should smell like roses to lose his identity and recognition. His mother wants that Skunk should have orginality. In this context, Jack tries to make Jo understand his view point. He has no desire that Jo should form a negative opinion about mommy. He tries to explain that the mommy should be loved, respected and well behaved by her child.

The story presents two different view points, i.e. one from the baby's perspective and other from Jack's perspective. Jo wants that her hero Roger Skunk must smell like roses. He must not be brought back to the bad smelling situation. She wants that the ‘stupid mommy’ should be punished for making little Skunk smell bad again.

On the other hand, Jack tells that it is the Wizard that is hit not the mother. The Wizard says “Ok” and brings Skunk to its original smell. Jack wants to stress that for a mother her son has got more prominence than any thing else. She views that Skunk never smells bad. Other animals may keep away from the stinky Skunk but for the mother. The rose smell becomes a distinct mark of recognition. She finds it strange to see Skunk in an awful smell of roses since she has the same bad smell of Roger Skunk. She feels elated when good smelling Roger becomes a stinky Skunk again.

Tips: -

V. Imp.

If we view the story very deeply we can come across two types of moral issues. One is regarding the proper understanding of the infants feelings and their pains as well as whims. The story under our purview presents that Roger Skunk smells too bad to play and enjoy with other animals. He is badly hurt and fails to stay in the company of his friends. With the advice of a wise owl, he seeks the help of a Wizard who gets his smell changed.

Thus Roger Skunk feels elated with the friend but the Mommy of Roger Skunk does not like. She takes the baby Skunk to the Wizard and hits on the head who in turn changes Roger Skunk to the original smell. Finding the baby in the original condition Mommay hugs and shows affection. Here Jo does not like this type of behaviour on the part of Snunk's mother. She wants that the Wizard should hit mommy. On the other side, Roger Skunk faces racial segregation. He smells bad. It is not his fault. But the other animals of the forest do not come near them and refuse to play. They call him “Roger, Stinky Roger.” The pain becomes so unbearable that tears roll over his cheeks. The Wizard changes his smell and other animals start playing and like his company. But the mother gets him changed to the original smell. Thus in the world of children, ugliness and hatred have no place. It is pure in every respect. We as human being, should follow this.

Tips: -

V. Imp.