Pippi Longstocking: Free Spirit

Review by Sunni Maravillosa - Sep 12, 2006

1 rating from readers

I don’t remember when I was first introduced to Pippilotta Delicatessa Windowshade Mackrelmint Efraim’s Daughter Longstocking, but it was at a fairly early age, and like many young girls, I was captivated by her free spirit. As the years passed, I forgot about Pippi, as she’s better known, but she sank deeper into me than I’d realized.

It took rediscovering her, via reading The Adventures of Pippi Longstocking aloud to my daughter, to begin to appreciate her ongoing influence. From becoming a Thing-Finder to saying, “We shall see what we shall see,” and beyond, there’s no doubt that my youthful exposure to Pippi Longstocking helped me become a thoroughgoing individualist.

Pippi is the boisterous foil to her more conventional neighbor children Tommy and Annika Settergren through a series of stories, originally published separately but gathered together in this volume. As good Swedish children — more typical of the sort portrayed when Pippi debuted in 1945 — they serve as near-ideal characters to contrast Pippi’s daring mien, and repeated rejection of useless social conventions.

From sleeping with her head under the covers and her feet on a pillow to insinuating herself into a grownup coffee party, Pippi provides plenty of examples that encourage children to question the adult world, rather than accept or unthinkingly adopt it.

Pippi isn’t a simplistic character so commonly encountered in today’s children’s literature. While she has several childlike faults, she is also thoughtful, kind, and straightforward in dealing with others; she makes mistakes but accepts the consequences; and she’s generous but not indiscriminate.

One of the better stories summing up Pippi Longstocking is Pippi Entertains Two Burglars, originally from the introductory book Pippi Longstocking. Pippi is busily counting gold coins when two tramps — really thieves, unbeknownst to her — knock on the door. Her response is to shout, “Walk in or stay out, whichever you choose! I never force anyone against his will.” Of course, when the thieves spy the pile of gold they attempt to steal it, but Pippi’s cunning and strength foil them.

After she ties them up, she discovers one can dance the schottische, which she has only recently learned. She invites him to dance, and when he accepts, unties them both and a party ensues. Upon wearing them out, she feeds the men, then sends them on their way at the close of the story with a gold piece each, stating, “These you have honestly earned.” Of course, not all thieves can be so easily rehabilitated, but the story offers an excellent starting point for talking to children about trust, strangers, and giving others a second chance.

Perhaps the most endearing element of Pippi's character to children and adults alike is her wonderful sense of life. She chooses to be positive, and each day unfolds as a possibility for adventure and learning for her.

Her reassurances to her deceased mother, “Don't you worry about me. I'll always come out on top,” offer a good opportunity to talk with children about reality and wishful thinking, while extending an example of strength in adversity. The idea of a young girl happily living alone certainly resonated with me, even while shades of Annika revealed themselves in me through shivers of fear at the thought of doing it myself.

Astrid Lindgren’s marvelous balance of presenting childhood fears as well as courage, of addressing genuine concerns but in a generally upbeat context, is the strength underlying the Pippi Longstocking stories. As a result, my son, who originally declined to listen to the stories with his sister, became drawn in one afternoon and has become a big fan as well. I’m pleased that both my children adore Lindgren’s rambunctious girl, of course; but I’m also happy to have her back in my life, for she offers value to adults as well.

The ever-questioning, gun-shooting, singular Pippi Longstocking was a controversial character in the 1940s, and remains one in some circles today. If that isn’t a sufficient recommendation for young and older readers alike, I don't know what is. For those who don’t need to rediscover Pippi, Lindgren’s deep booklist offers many other interesting characters and tales to explore with your favorite young person — or alone.

For further exploration:

Biography of Astrid Lindgren

Pippi Longstocking: Swedish rebel and feminist role model