Heidi

Heidi is a children's novel written by Swiss author, Johanna Spyri and was published in 1880. I hadn't read Heidi before deciding to use it on my blog but I have to say it was an easy, enjoyable read. Heidi is a very lovable character as she is so sweet, thoughtful and charming so I automatically warmed to her. Saying it was an easy read in terms of the physical book would be a bit hypocritical as it was possibly the oldest book I have taken out of the library, and I was terrified at each turn of the page one might fall out.

 Up in the Swiss Alps I followed little Heidi's life as she grew up in the mountains, getting used to the air, the food and the ways people live. The book is full of positive connotations, Heidi loves the views, the simple, fresh food and all the people that surround her. 

The food Heidi eats in the mountain couldn't really be called treats or sweets but nevertheless she enjoys what she is given as though it was treats.

The language used to describe the bread and cheese makes quite a simplistic meal seem as though the most extravagant, delicious meal in the world. (In Heidi's opinion anyway.) The simile of the cheese 'as soft as butter' creates imagery of buttery, melted cheese, positively personifying the texture and taste of the food. Heidi's contentment and love of the food is evident not only through the literary devices used to portray the food, but also through the description of herself. "...the child looked the picture of content as she sat eating..." This obviously shows Heidi's delight and enjoyment of the food.

As I mentioned earlier although bread and cheese would not be considered a treat for many children it is for some, especially Peter. Peter lives on the mountain not too far from Heidi and he befriends her. He is a lot less fortunate than Heidi and as much as Heidi enjoys the meal of bread and cheese she is not as grateful as Peter is when she offers him some.

Peter is clearly ecstatic at the prospect of the bread. The verb 'seized' shows his desperation and desire for the bread. Bread is clearly a very extravagant and rare meal for Peter showing how usually eats poorly. Peter's response to the bread is similar to those of the orphans in Oliver Twist. Having bread on the occasion in the work house was considered to be a tremendous treat! Imagine that! Now don't get me wrong, I love a cheese toasty but when it comes to chocolate cake, spaghetti bolognese or a roast dinner I know what wins!

I watched the film version of Heidi and I cried many times throughout. It was a very emotional but enthralling adaptation of the book. Heidi's grandfather is a lot harsher and mean than he appears is in the book and her love for the food he provides is not particularly evident until towards the end of the film. Certain events are altered in the film but overall I think it captured the characters personas really well and the settings were beautiful. At around 6 minutes into this clip is where Heidi's love and longing for her Grandfathers food is apparent.

Evidently, The Adventures of Alice in Wonderland displays a very different perception of food to Oliver Twist and Heidi, Oliver Twist and Heidi have very real life conceptions of food and display the basic foods such as bread, cheese and not to mention gruel. The food represented in Alice in Wonderland is less realistic, cake that makes you shrink and grow dramatically. In Alice in Wonderland food is presented as an element of fantasy and enhances the vivid imagination of both character and author. 

However the character's relationship with food in Alice and Wonderland and Heidi is similar. Both Heidi and Alice speak and describe the foods they eat positively. Oliver in Oliver Twist does not find the food appealing and his relationship with it is very evidently not a fruitful one!