Louise Fitzhugh’s Harriet the Spy is a classic portrayal of how honest a child can be. I have not gotten very far in the book just yet but I can see how relatable it can be for children and even for adults. As a child I watched Harriet the Spy but never read the book so I am looking forward to reading this modern classic. Harriet is introduced to us with her friend Sport and we automatically see the dynamic between them. Sport is an interesting character, he is a child but acts more like an adult. He is always worrying about his dad and I can’t help but feel for the poor boy.
As a reader the first thing I noticed was Harriet’s status. She lives in the upper East-Side Manhattan, and has a nanny, which is not typical, at least not in my world. But there is something about a book taking place in New York that makes it a little extra interesting; Annie, Elouise at the Plaza and now Harriet The Spy. Living in Manhattan makes it difficult to have space to play at home so her idea of entertainment is watching those around her and writing in her special “notebook” exactly what she thinks of them. No one is free from her brutal honesty and that in turn is what gets her into trouble with her friends. Her nanny, Ole Golly, seems to be the driving force behind this. Ole Golly is very supportive of Harriet’s plan to be a writer and at times puts ideas about life in her head. Harriet writes in her notebook:
“BOY, OLE GOLLY TOLD ME ONCE THAT SOME PEOPLE THINK THEY’RE PERFECT BUT SHE OUGHTA SEE THESE TWO. IF THEY HAD A BABY IT WOULD LAUGH IN IT’S HEAD ALL THE TIME AT THEM...ALSO IT MIGHT NOT BE PERFECT. THEN THEY MIGHT KILL IT. I’M GLAD I’M NOT PERFECT.” (PG.68)
She relays so many things back to Ole Golly and we can see that Harriet’s honesty came from her. Harriet is also devastated that Ole Golly is leaving her and she does not feel ready to face this world without her.
Salwa,
ReplyDeleteI too recognized how often Harriet refers to Ole Golly when she is spying or even when she tries to feel better. After she undergoes the terrible trauma of being completely ostracized by her peers, it's Ole Golly's words that help her stay strong. Her teachings constantly bring her comfort, through remembering her sayings to receiving the letter at the end of the novel. Their relationship is so strong and beautiful that I teared up when she had to leave Harriet. Mentor/mentee companionship is tough to replicate, which I'm sure is why Harriet feels such a profound loss throughout parts two and three of the novel.
Thanks!
Sydney
I think Harriet's status lends itself to the agency she is able to employ throughout. As discussed in class, she is essentially an orphan, at least until about 5PM, as her parents are at work all day and she needs Ole Golly around to take care of her. On top of that, her parents are regularly out attending to other functions, leaving Harriet in the world by herself, essentially.
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