“And he came to the place where the wild things are,” recited my mother as she sat at the edge of my bed. My 5-year-old eyes gleamed back at her, anxiously awaiting her delicate fingers to turn the page. I listened to the words dance magically and effortlessly off of her lips. By the end of the story, my eyes were shut and I began to steadily drift off, softly grinning. She would then proceed to lean over, kiss me on the forehead, and whisper, “Goodnight, Wild Thing.”
Who would have guessed that a single book could bring a little girl so much joy? I was never able to fall asleep unless my mom read me a bedtime story. Although I enjoyed all the books she read, "Where the Wild Things Are" by Maurice Sendak was my favorite. Being the stubborn child I was, I would invariably make her re-read my favorite pages. She would scoff at my enthusiasm and willingly do so, over and over. I thoroughly adored the different illustrations of monsters, and lived vicariously through the main character, Max, as he ventures through a mysterious land of odd creatures.
Ever since I was first introduced to this unique fantasy, I knew it was something special. At the time, I did not realize how much this rudimentary book would mean to me. I often revisit it in remembrance of simpler times and to remind myself of the important lessons it offered. These teachings I have apprehended throughout this story are ones I hold dearly, and I am eager to share them with you.
Do not judge someone or an object by its appearance.
In the book, protagonist Max encounters an imaginary world of creatures with terrible roars, terrible teeth and terrible claws. But, in the end, they may not have been as terrible as they seemed. They sanctioned Max into their monster tribe, accepting him for who he was internally, despite his outward appearance. The Wild Things and Max build such a strong bond that they never wanted Max to leave. This idea caused me to realize the importance of empathy and tolerance of others.
Be imaginative and creative.
Max is able to create a magical world around him, one where he is King and his parents cannot make rules for him. As people get older, they are less likely to move freely between a whimsical state of mind and a realistic state of mind. I always hope to manifest my imagination in a positive way, enabling myself to be ubiquitously inventive to ensure I am always on my toes (metaphorically, of course).
Family is prominent.
Even Max’s enchanted land cannot replace the comfort of his own home. Despite the fun and excitement the Wild Things show him, he still misses his family and decides to return back to reality, where his mom has a hot supper waiting for him on the kitchen table. This enforced the idea to never take my family for granted, no matter the circumstance. Home is not a place, but rather with the people you care for.
Love passionately.
The Wild Things were so infatuated with Max and appreciative of him, but they only knew how to express their love by trying to eat him. The lesson here is to love as largely as one can. Do not limit yourself, be unique and passionate, and never settle for less than the best.
Lindsay Loo
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