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A review by jadejade
Mr. Messy by Roger Hargreaves
4.0
Re-read
There's a couple ways to interpret this one.
1) Mr Messy is a stand-in for the child audience: children are often messy like Mr Messy, and sometimes their parents sweep in like Mr Neat and Mr Tidy, to tidy the children and the children's mess despite any protest. This makes the story a cautionary tale. If you're as messy as this, just you watch out, yuk yuk yuk.
OR
2) Mr Messy is a stand-in for a person who does not exercise self care: people who care about their situation may sweep in like Mr Neat and Mr Tidy, and help out, even though objectively Mr Messy's mess is none of their business. This is a more nuanced message.
Mr Neat and Mr Tidy did not ask for, nor receive, permission from Mr Messy; they just saw a need, and did all that they could. There's even a moment where Mr Neat and Mr Tidy are afraid that their efforts have got them into trouble with Mr Messy. But in the end Mr Messy was appreciative of the intervention.
Basically, sometimes people will not ask for help when they need it, and while helping such people is meant as a good deed, it is possible that your efforts will earn you their ire. That's actually a really useful message.
... Why does this series make adults think so hard?
There's a couple ways to interpret this one.
1) Mr Messy is a stand-in for the child audience: children are often messy like Mr Messy, and sometimes their parents sweep in like Mr Neat and Mr Tidy, to tidy the children and the children's mess despite any protest. This makes the story a cautionary tale. If you're as messy as this, just you watch out, yuk yuk yuk.
OR
2) Mr Messy is a stand-in for a person who does not exercise self care: people who care about their situation may sweep in like Mr Neat and Mr Tidy, and help out, even though objectively Mr Messy's mess is none of their business. This is a more nuanced message.
Mr Neat and Mr Tidy did not ask for, nor receive, permission from Mr Messy; they just saw a need, and did all that they could. There's even a moment where Mr Neat and Mr Tidy are afraid that their efforts have got them into trouble with Mr Messy. But in the end Mr Messy was appreciative of the intervention.
Basically, sometimes people will not ask for help when they need it, and while helping such people is meant as a good deed, it is possible that your efforts will earn you their ire. That's actually a really useful message.
... Why does this series make adults think so hard?