Book Review Tigger on the Couch
The Neuroses and Maladies of our Favourite Childhood Characters
What writers can learn from Laura James' new book, which psychoanalyzes characters from classic children's literature.
Ever wondered why Peter Pan refused to grow up? Why Cinderella didn’t confront her cruel stepsisters? Or why Tigger bounces all the time?
According to journalist Laura James, they, and many other famous characters from children’s books, are suffering from mental health issues ranging from ADHD to Narcissism and Approval Addiction.
Hundred Acre Wood
Her analyses, presented as formal case studies, are witty and incisive. For example, the inhabitants of Hundred Acre Wood are 90% male and all show signs of some emotional or psychological disorder. Piglet has Generalised Anxiety Disorder, Owl is dyslexic, Eeyore suffers from Dysthymic Disorder and Christopher Robin may develop co-dependency unless a caring adult takes over some of the responsibility for the welfare of those who live in the wood.
Peter Rabbit
She explains why Peter Rabbit felt compelled to disobey his mother and return to the garden where his father had been killed and turned into a pie – he suffers from Oppositional Defiant Order. This may have been caused by the traumatic death of his father, and the fact that he feels he is not getting enough attention from his mother. His sisters, on the other hand, are overly compliant. She recommends family therapy, so the Rabbits can talk through their feelings over the loss of their father.
What Can Writers Learn from this Book?
Unless the characters get professional help for their problems there will be no happy ever after for any of them, in spite of what the fairy tales say. But happy ever after is not what writers want for their characters.
If everyone in the world of fiction was mentally healthy and lived in functional relationships with one another, there would be nothing interesting to write about.
Conflict is Necessary in Fiction
Conflict, inner drives, idiosyncrasies and foibles are what make memorable fictional characters and strong plots. Imagine Eeyore on anti-depressants, Tigger and Pooh on Ritalin, Kanga in a happy relationship with Roo’s daddy, and Piglet relaxed and happy. All the drama would go out of their lives and there would be nothing to write about.
Checklists
Each case study ends with a diagnostic checklist. This is a useful quick guide to writers trying to build strong characters and to understand what drives them to behave in the way they do.
Mental Health is a Serious Issue
Although this book is light hearted it has a serious undercurrent. James acknowledges that mental illness is a real and painful problem. “My aim was to present mental illness in an accessible way which might lessen the fear so often associated with emotional and psychological disorders,” she writes.
‘Tigger on the Couch’ by Laura James (Collins, 2007) is not just a good read. It will be helpful to any writer trying to understand what motivates people to behave in the way they do.
Read about how writers can learn to deal with the emotional aspects of writing, such as disappointment and writer's block.
