Transformation: Gruel
May. 29th, 2020 08:59 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
pobble_readsI've gotten behind again - sorry but I think pyelonephritis is a fairly good reason/excuse! (I'm a lot better now though still "not quite right". Hoping that my thoughts are reasonably coherent in spite of that)
Trying to think about "transformation" is actually harder to get into that I thought it would be - it's not a word that I use very often unlike "transition" which has multiple meanings in my life. My first association with transformation is a traditional pantomime transformation scene - someone waves a magic wand and suddenly everything is completely different. Transition is (usually) a more gradual process. Even though my life has certainly been transformed by this pandemic and lockdown it didn't actually happen instantly, it was quick but there were definite stages (and indeed different rules and start times for "vulnerable" people and everyone else). And coming out of lockdown will have to be a very, very gradual gradual process. We know that the world will be transformed afterwards but it's nothing like a wand being waved by the evil pandemic fairy - we are stuck in the gloopy uncertain middle, not knowing how long this will take or what life will be like afterwards.
Gobbolino obviously is magic and can instantly transform (some) things - which we see he doing in this chapter but he does also experience slower more ambiguous transformations in his relationships and the shape of his life - which I'll look at after the recaps
9 Sentence Recap
Gobbolino is busy at work in the Orphanage kitchen.
Gobbolino magics sugar-plums and caramels into the Cook's nasty gruel
The whole Orphanage gets ready for the Lord Mayor's visit
The Cook is angry and makes salty gruel
Gobbolino transforms that in chocolate sauce
The orphans end up with chocolatey stains all over their best clothes
The Cook is angry about the mess and complains to the Porteress
Gobbolino explains to the Porteress that he was brought up as a witch's kitten
When the Porteress is distracted by the Mayor's arrival the cook drives Gobbolino out.
3 Sentence Recap
The Cook makes horrible gruel.
Gobbolino casts transforms the gruel into treats.
The Cook is angry with Gobbolino and chases him away.
I love the idea of transforming the thin, grey gruel into something delicious. First by adding treats and then when the Cook goes to the extreme of deliberately making salty gruel by changing it completely into chocolate sauce. And I love the descriptions of the orphan's eyes shining and shouting for joy (it would be a fun sacred imagination passage! And also to think about what other little treats could be snuck into the gruel).
In a less magic way Gobbolino has also transformed himself into a kitchen cat not just catching mice (presumably by transforming himself into cheese like he did on the previous chapter) but also making himself
The other big transformation I see in this chapter is the potential for an orphan's life to be transformed by being adopted by the Lord mayor and Lady Mayoress.It's set up as much more fairy tale-like than an adoption in our world would be (even in the period when the book was written). But in spite with the bureaucracy and safeguarding in our world that's still a huge transition and transformation of a child's life (and for the rest of their new family). The hope of this life-changing opportunity for at least one of the orphans leads to the more mundane transformation of all the orphans being bathed, groomed and dressed in their very best clothes to make them more presentable and appealing. This is not a magic-wand type transformation - it takes a lot of hard work from the Porteress, the Cook and Gobbolino
Understanding they way in which our perspective transforms as we grow up I can see how what is splashy bath-time fun for the children is wearing for the adults (and cat) just trying to get them clean. The Cook's violent response is obviously completely unacceptable but can sympathise with Gobbolino when the children are skipping
Something that doesn't transform in this chapter is Gobbolino's emotional connection to the Brothers. Their lives have changed from being homeless and alone to being cared for in the orphanage (mostly cared for well under the Porteress' watch but obviously suffering when only the cook is in charge of them (which makes me wonder if the way that the cook acts transforms when they are only children and animals around to see her?)) and they are happy playing and bonding with the other children. Gobbolino obvious cares for and feels a responsibility to all of the orphans in the institution but he still seems to have a special affection for the brothers he guided there. He takes time out form his duties specially to visit them and when he is at risk of being thrown out from their new shared home they are particularly loud protesting for him
I think it's probably useful to keep an eye on the things that don't change when we are thinking about change and transformation. Gobbolino's love and sense of responsibility is a constant and that stability is part of what helps the Brothers cope with the huge, though positive, transformation in their lives. Too much change is overwhelming.
The final transformation of the chapter is a familiar one - Gobbolino goes from having a home and a role to being homeless and alone again. And it doesn't seem to be something he is able to get used to - he seems almost as upset as he was when he was first abandoned in the Witch's Cave. He's braver now and more able to contextualise what has happened to him, thinking that conflict with the cook was inevitable and consoling himself with the thought that the Brothers will almost certainly be adopted by the Lord Mayor. But he has to go through a similar grieving process to his other losses before he can do that and be more resilient (and be able to focus on the Brother's good luck rather than his own bad luck). I actually really admire him for how quickly he turns that around and that he is able to think about the good outcome for the Brothers at all. If he hadn't felt sorry for himself at all then his anti-schadenfreude wouldn't seem genuine (I tried to look up if there was an official word for anti-schadenfreude but only found debates about whether the opposite is actually compassion for others pain or pleasure at others good fortune - I know a lot easier to be compassionate when people's lives are difficult than I do to be pleased when things are going better for them than they are for me!). I think it's impressive that he is able to find any hope after this his third rejection and that he hasn't been negatively transformed by these difficult experiences.
It's late now so I will have to do the Havruta and Blessings another day and then (somewhen!)I will be looking at Chapter 7: The Lord Mayor's Coach through the theme of Risk
Trying to think about "transformation" is actually harder to get into that I thought it would be - it's not a word that I use very often unlike "transition" which has multiple meanings in my life. My first association with transformation is a traditional pantomime transformation scene - someone waves a magic wand and suddenly everything is completely different. Transition is (usually) a more gradual process. Even though my life has certainly been transformed by this pandemic and lockdown it didn't actually happen instantly, it was quick but there were definite stages (and indeed different rules and start times for "vulnerable" people and everyone else). And coming out of lockdown will have to be a very, very gradual gradual process. We know that the world will be transformed afterwards but it's nothing like a wand being waved by the evil pandemic fairy - we are stuck in the gloopy uncertain middle, not knowing how long this will take or what life will be like afterwards.
Gobbolino obviously is magic and can instantly transform (some) things - which we see he doing in this chapter but he does also experience slower more ambiguous transformations in his relationships and the shape of his life - which I'll look at after the recaps
9 Sentence Recap
Gobbolino is busy at work in the Orphanage kitchen.
Gobbolino magics sugar-plums and caramels into the Cook's nasty gruel
The whole Orphanage gets ready for the Lord Mayor's visit
The Cook is angry and makes salty gruel
Gobbolino transforms that in chocolate sauce
The orphans end up with chocolatey stains all over their best clothes
The Cook is angry about the mess and complains to the Porteress
Gobbolino explains to the Porteress that he was brought up as a witch's kitten
When the Porteress is distracted by the Mayor's arrival the cook drives Gobbolino out.
3 Sentence Recap
The Cook makes horrible gruel.
Gobbolino casts transforms the gruel into treats.
The Cook is angry with Gobbolino and chases him away.
I love the idea of transforming the thin, grey gruel into something delicious. First by adding treats and then when the Cook goes to the extreme of deliberately making salty gruel by changing it completely into chocolate sauce. And I love the descriptions of the orphan's eyes shining and shouting for joy (it would be a fun sacred imagination passage! And also to think about what other little treats could be snuck into the gruel).
In a less magic way Gobbolino has also transformed himself into a kitchen cat not just catching mice (presumably by transforming himself into cheese like he did on the previous chapter) but also making himself
"as useful as ten kitchen maids about the kitchen, wiping the dishes, peeling the potatoes, and polishing all the orphans' little boots". I'm not actually sure if those are things that all cats can do in Gobbolino's world or only cats who have some magic? Unfortunately all of his hard work doesn't transform the Cook's attitude to him - it just seems to add to her suspicion and resentment.
The other big transformation I see in this chapter is the potential for an orphan's life to be transformed by being adopted by the Lord mayor and Lady Mayoress.It's set up as much more fairy tale-like than an adoption in our world would be (even in the period when the book was written). But in spite with the bureaucracy and safeguarding in our world that's still a huge transition and transformation of a child's life (and for the rest of their new family). The hope of this life-changing opportunity for at least one of the orphans leads to the more mundane transformation of all the orphans being bathed, groomed and dressed in their very best clothes to make them more presentable and appealing. This is not a magic-wand type transformation - it takes a lot of hard work from the Porteress, the Cook and Gobbolino
with many shouts and splashing and a great deal of water over the kitchen floor.
Understanding they way in which our perspective transforms as we grow up I can see how what is splashy bath-time fun for the children is wearing for the adults (and cat) just trying to get them clean. The Cook's violent response is obviously completely unacceptable but can sympathise with Gobbolino when the children are skipping
about the floor in their little nightshirts crying "Hurrah! Hurrah! Hurrah!"that even he
grew a little weary of them. Time and changes in perspective, role and responsibility are very slow and unshowy kinds of transformation but they are hugely significant.
Something that doesn't transform in this chapter is Gobbolino's emotional connection to the Brothers. Their lives have changed from being homeless and alone to being cared for in the orphanage (mostly cared for well under the Porteress' watch but obviously suffering when only the cook is in charge of them (which makes me wonder if the way that the cook acts transforms when they are only children and animals around to see her?)) and they are happy playing and bonding with the other children. Gobbolino obvious cares for and feels a responsibility to all of the orphans in the institution but he still seems to have a special affection for the brothers he guided there. He takes time out form his duties specially to visit them and when he is at risk of being thrown out from their new shared home they are particularly loud protesting for him
"Oh, don't send away our dear, darling, beautiful Gobbolino!"
I think it's probably useful to keep an eye on the things that don't change when we are thinking about change and transformation. Gobbolino's love and sense of responsibility is a constant and that stability is part of what helps the Brothers cope with the huge, though positive, transformation in their lives. Too much change is overwhelming.
The final transformation of the chapter is a familiar one - Gobbolino goes from having a home and a role to being homeless and alone again. And it doesn't seem to be something he is able to get used to - he seems almost as upset as he was when he was first abandoned in the Witch's Cave. He's braver now and more able to contextualise what has happened to him, thinking that conflict with the cook was inevitable and consoling himself with the thought that the Brothers will almost certainly be adopted by the Lord Mayor. But he has to go through a similar grieving process to his other losses before he can do that and be more resilient (and be able to focus on the Brother's good luck rather than his own bad luck). I actually really admire him for how quickly he turns that around and that he is able to think about the good outcome for the Brothers at all. If he hadn't felt sorry for himself at all then his anti-schadenfreude wouldn't seem genuine (I tried to look up if there was an official word for anti-schadenfreude but only found debates about whether the opposite is actually compassion for others pain or pleasure at others good fortune - I know a lot easier to be compassionate when people's lives are difficult than I do to be pleased when things are going better for them than they are for me!). I think it's impressive that he is able to find any hope after this his third rejection and that he hasn't been negatively transformed by these difficult experiences.
"Some day I shall find a happy home," said Gobbolino, trotting along in the dust, and purring to think of the good fortune that had come to the little brothers.
It's late now so I will have to do the Havruta and Blessings another day and then (somewhen!)I will be looking at Chapter 7: The Lord Mayor's Coach through the theme of Risk
