COVE

From Winnie-the-Pooh by A. A. Milne to Frog and Toad Are Friends by Arnold Lobel to Charlotte’s Web by E. B. White, readers love the literary animals of their childhood. But why are anthropomorphic animals important in children’s literature? To answer this question, one must examine the work of Beatrix Potter, who most notably gave children the loveable character Peter Rabbit in The Tale of Peter Rabbit (1902). In the subsequent The Complete Peter Rabbit, Potter introduces readers to Benjamin Bunny, Squirrel Nutkin, and Jemina Puddle-Duck, yet her most famous work remains her first. Thus, most know that in The Tale of Peter Rabbit, Peter sneaks into Mr. McGregor's garden, and the Mr. McGregor almost catches him; the book warns naughty children not to disbehave. With this brief introduction to the text, this case will now examine how Potter's anthropomorphic animals in The Tale of Peter Rabbit offer children relatable characters, simplified moral lessons, and inspiration for their imagination.

Photograph of Beatrix Potter with Kep, 1913, Wikipedia. Helen Beatrix Potter was born on July 28, 1866, in Kensington, London. Her mother enjoyed painting in watercolor, while her father preferred drawing in pen and ink. Because of the artistic influence of her parents, Potter learned to draw from an early age by copying the works of other artists. In her 20s, she began drawing the plants and animals she observed under a microscope. In 1893, Potter wrote and illustrated The Tale of Peter Rabbit in a letter for the son of her former governess. The children’s book was revised and privately printed in 1901, and after being published by Frederick Warne & Co. the next year, the book became a success. Now, The Tale of Peter Rabbit is one of the best-selling books to date, and Potter proceeded to write six other books in her lifetime.

Beatrix Potter, Book Cover, The Tale of Peter Rabbit, 1902, Wikipedia. In The Tale of Peter Rabbit, the mother of four rabbits, three girls and one boy, warns her children to avoid Mr. McGregor’s garden because Mr. McGregor caught their father there and baked him into a pie. Peter, the protagonist, ignores his mother’s warning and enters the garden while his sisters pick blackberries. While Peter eats Mr. McGregor’s vegetables, the man suddenly eyes him and chases him through the garden. Peter becomes lost in the garden, and although he eventually discovers the gate, the man almost catches him. When Peter returns home, he rests, and his mother makes him chamomile tea.

Beatrix Potter, "But Peter, Who Was Very Naughty, Ran Straight Away to Mr. McGregor's Garden, and Squeezed Under the Gate!" from The Tale of Peter Rabbit, 1902. In this picture, Peter squeezes under Mr. McGregor’s Gate, demonstrating his childlike mischievousness as he disobeys his mother. This loveable protagonist engages children with his tale because he embodies traits with which they can relate. Without reading the book, someone might think that because he is a rabbit, he acts unintelligent and animalistic. However, readers know the story presents human behavior in the rabbits, such as walking upon their hind legs, wearing clothes, and sharing a common language. Peter even surpasses the average knowledge of an anthropomorphic rabbit in this world; he showcases his cleverness when he outsmarts Mr. McGregor. Further, Peter’s personality reflects the human curiosity and mischievousness of childhood, which often leads to trouble. As stated before, Peter disobeys his mother and sneaks into Mr. McGregor's garden, tempted by the promise of vegetables. This imperfection makes him relatable. Last, because Peter experiences human emotions, such as excitement and fear, readers empathize with his journey. Children see their own feelings mirrored in Peter throughout the adventure, which fosters their connection to the story. Overall, anthropomorphizing animals is effective in children’s literature because young readers don’t see animals as “other.” They already believe the animals possess human characteristics.

 Beatrix Potter, “Mr. McGregor … Intended to Pop [a Sieve] Upon the Top of Peter; But Peter Wriggled Out Just in Time” from The Tale of Peter Rabbit, 1902. In this illustration, Peter loses his jacket as he escapes Mr. McGregor. Because Peter disobeys his mother, Mrs. McGregor might have baked him into a pie—the fate of his father. Thus, Peter’s experiences teach children to obey their parents. The story also teaches that their actions have consequences. However, Potter simplifies the moral lessons of the story by demonstrating them through animal behavior. For example, while Peter’s decision to sneak into Mr. McGregor’s garden to steal vegetables against his mother’s wishes portrays his disobedience, his actions are also instinctual; rabbits are known for being naturally curious creatures. At the same time, his curiosity creates tension with which children can relate. Further, Mr. McGregor chasing Peter illustrates the consequences of Peter’s actions. A child, however, knows they are safe from such fatal repercussions because they are human; humans hunt animals. Thus, while the story highlights the importance of caution, utilizing animal characters creates a sense of distance between the protagonist and the reader. This distance helps prevent the moral from feeling heavy-handed.

Beatrix Potter, “‘Now Run Along, And Don’t Get Into Mischief’” from The Tale of Peter Rabbit, 1902. This illustration depicts Mrs. Rabbit buttoning Peter’s blue jacket before going to the baker’s shop to buy bread and buns. The fantastical elements of the story, namely the anthropomorphic rabbits, inspire imagination in young readers. This is because anthropomorphic animals combine the familiar and extraordinary; children see rabbits in their everyday lives, but in this story, the rabbits are given human characteristics. They can talk amongst each other, wear little blue jackets, and shop for brown bread and currant buns. They drink tea, and their mothers worry over them when they’re unwell. The whimsical nature of this story encourages young readers to explore their own “what-if?” scenarios, such as “What if I had a pocket-sized dragon?” and “What if I could enter my drawings?” and create their own stories. Thus, fantasy stories using anthropomorphic animals, such as The Tale of Peter Rabbit, inspire creativity in children.