Edward Tulane is a stuffed rabbit of the finest quality and craftsmanship, wearing clothes of the most gentile fashion. And he knows it. Although his girl Abilene dotes on him, he could not bring himself to appreciate her in the same way. Only grandmother Pellegrina recognized the haughty spirit of the bunny.
This story goes as stories must and Edward is separated from Abilene. Through a series of misfortunes he is accidentally thrown overboard into the sea. Of course toy rabbits cannot die and Edward had months to consider his plight while on the ocean's floor. He eventually lost hope that Abilene would come for him and began to suspect that Pellegrina was somehow behind his travails.
A storm eventually results in tumbling Edward into the net of an ancient fisherman. In his joy at being rescued, Edward forgives the man for calling him an "it." Nellie, the wife of the fisherman, recognizes the marks of greatness in the naked, water-logged toy. Although to his shame, Nellie believes him to be a "she." Whose name is Susanna. Who wears frilly dresses. And yet... Edward found himself listening to Nellie's stories as he had never listened to Abilene's prattle. Nellie, in her simple way told him of her children she loved and those she had lost. Perhaps the ocean bottom had seeped into his brain.
It couldn't last. Fearing her parents were becoming too attached to the "rabbit child," their daughter Lolly sent Edward off to the dump. Edwards heart broke and yearned for Nellie and the old man. Contemplating Pelligrina's disappointment in him, Edward began to realize he had not loved, but only tolerated Abilene. Maybe his feelings towards Nellie were love. But it was too late.
Suddenly the dog of hobo sniffed Edward and fetched him as a prize for his master, Bull. And so Edward set off on the life of a tramp, Malone, a rabbit on the run, sleeping under the stars and contemplating his life so far: those he began to realize he loved and those he had lost. He lost Bull as well, tossed from the train by a cruel companion.
Eventually Edward is rescued by a boy named Bryce who believes Edward would make a fine present for his sick little sister, Sarah Ruth. Edward actually feels joy at the thought of being a child's toy again. Rechristened Jangles, Edward soon realized Sarah Ruth existed in a precarious situation of poverty, sickness, and abuse. After six months Sarah Ruth succumbs to her illness. Her neglectful and abusive father weeps as his loss. When Bryce says the man has no right to mourn, he replies, "I loved her." "I loved her too, thought Edward. I loved her and now she is gone. How could this be? he wondered. How could he bet to live in a world without Sarah Ruth?" (p. 150)
While on the run with Bryce, Edward chances to meet old Pellegrina. In desperation, he thinks, "Look at me. You got your wish. I have learned how to love. And it's a terrible thing. I'm broken. My heart is broken. Help me." Pellegrina walked away. But neither Bryce nor Edward will see his luck change. Edward's china head is smashed into pieces by an angry restauranteur. But Bryce, displaying sacrificial love, takes the rabbit to a doll mender. Given only two options, pay for the repairs or give up the rabbit, Bryce surrenders the only remaining tie he has to Sarah Ruth. Edward will live again.
Sitting on the shelf with the other dolls for sale, Edward has decided he is done with love. It is simply too painful. And yet... he was haunted by the last words of an antique doll as she went out of the shop, "Someone will come; someone will come for you." Hope flickered, but the years passed. But the old doll was right; someone did come. In fact as little Maggie begged for the the rabbit, Edward recognized his old pocket watch around the neck of her mother. Abilene.
And Edward went home.
No comments:
Post a Comment