My friend Donald White, a brilliant writer in his own right, made the following comment:
"This is very much a story about two wrongs not making a right. The people were indifferent to the piper, so he takes their children. No matter how wonderful the place is that he takes them, it still makes him nothing more than a kidnapper."
Donald's statement is not wrong. From his personal human perspective, he cast judgement on the piper out-rightly without a second thought. Most people on planet earth would do the same. I am sure the people of Hamelin did likewise because they saw that the Piper had committed a more egregious crime then the one they had inflicted upon him. (A mass kidnapping in comparison to a breach of verbal contract. No contest. The kidnapping of children is worse.) By the laws of this world, Donald was correct in his opinion.
However, there is a chance that the Pied Piper was not human at all. He could be a demon or some sort of human hybrid. If this is true, that human morality, laws, and everything he consider normal do not apply to his way of thinking. He very well could have been doing something just and believe in it as greatly as we believe in our own ways. What he is doing may still be adverse to our society and may even require us to intervene; however, that does not exactly put the Piper in the wrong. I will concede to Don if the Piper is indeed human.
My friend, Chris Buffuloe, commented thusly:
"I've only heard of the story through children's cartoons, so the crippled child who did not get to go was surprising and sad. Fascinating that the Piper's motive is vengeance but he still seems to care for the innocent children, he never really gave them a choice in the matter either. Love the mysterious quality of it all, and a lesson to be learned; If a person with talents does you a great service don't turn your back on them when the bill arrives."
Chris did not know about the crippled boy who did not make it into the magical land. This may be because many adaptations of the story drop this because it seems cruel from an authorial perspective to do that to the child. It was a bit like slapping Tiny Tim in the face rather than giving him a giant turkey at the end of "A Christmas Carol." I do not have a problem with the ending change of these adaptations. Both versions work perfectly. But then Chris goes on to assume that the children, although cared for, do not get a choice. The answer seems to lie in the cripple child himself.
The only two to come away from the Pied Piper's influence was a single rat and a crippled child. In both instances, they forever go through life telling the world of the amazing music of this wonderful man, the Pied Piper. The rat tells his rodent brethren that he was so in love with the melody that he simply could not help it. And the boy goes on to explain how wonderful all those sights were within the mountain before it closed on him. He did not seem to hate the Pied Piper for it. To him, it was an unfortunate accident.
The boy's account is very sincere and does not sound like brain washing. This very well could denote that his efforts to follow the Pied Piper was his own choice rather than the hypnosis of a magical instrument. The sight he saw within the mountain furthered his conviction. He saw the Pied Piper as an actor of good in the world and dearly wished he could have hobbled faster so that he could have lived with him forever. If this is true, then Chris' assumption that the children had no choice is dispelled.
My other author friend, Shawn O'Toole, made the following comment:
"The Piper was a demon holding to the mathematical "morality" of cause and effect: "tit for tat" if you will. He initiated a cause but was not reciprocated with the appropriate effect. True to his angelic heritage he crunched the numbers for the appropriate result. His attitude towards the children was consistent with math. They were a future variable SUBTRACTED from the original equation that through [sic] things out of balance. ALSO: angels and demons alike are emotional but unabashed in acting according to those emotions. His concern for the children was that they were unrealized potential. Children are ALWAYS viewed as "potential" by angels and their offspring."
Shawn right-off claims that the Pied Piper is a demon. Demons are a lot like animals but simply more complex and intelligent. They work off of programming. Every action has a reaction depending on what is important to that particular demon. If this is true, then the Pied Pipers reaction to not being paid his dues was a righteous retaliation from his point of view. "No money? Then you don't get to keep your children."
Shawn also mentions that the demon would only see the children as unrealized potential which would fit solidly into his claim that their growth as human beings would be stunted by their parent's own personal inefficiencies. The demon would dislike wasted potential and so make sure that the children are taken out of their hands. "Mathematical morality." He crunched the numbers and made a call. And he had the power and ability to do it too.
I really appreciate all the comments I got for the previous blog. I hope you enjoyed this one as well. "The Pied Piper of Hamelin" is one of the most startling legends on planet Earth, and it deserves a hefty discussion. I am glad I could help out with it a little.
Have another opinion? You can comment below or you can email me at tkwadeauthor@gmail.com. Once again, thanks!
If the Piper is not human, then he is entirely out of touch. There is nothing to be learned from such a being, except to avoid them. While it is a good story, if it really happened it would be a terrible thing.
ReplyDeleteAnother fascinating perspective from a human being. Let's break it down!
Delete"If the Piper is not human, then he is entirely out of touch."
The operative section of this quote is "out of touch." This denotes that the creature called the Pied Piper ought to understand humans more than he does. What the human does not seem to get is that there is a possibility that the Piper may not be capable of it. Humans, especially in groups, are greatly adverse to anything that is does not fit the common societal norms.
Next: "There is nothing to be learned from such a being, except to avoid them."
Humans have a massive ego. They tend to push things away when they are too uncomfortable with them. In truth, there really isn't any reason to learn about anything. Donald's quote here is very likely how the humans in Hamelin were thinking after all their children were taken away. And yet, these were the same egotistical people who could have just as easily paid the Piper for his services.
As to avoiding creatures like the Piper, I ask why? The Pied Piper had some very interesting skills and really did not ask much for his service. (Only to be paid for it which was agreed upon.) Remember that, regardless of what he did, the entity, demon or not, was still taken advantage of, and that was still a sin.
Lastly: "While it is a good story, if it really happened it would be a terrible thing."
For the humans in Hamelin, it would be a horrible thing. All of their children would be taken away. Forget that they took advantage of the Piper's help. For the rats, it was also a terrible thing, for all but one died. For the children, they get to live out their lives happy. For the Piper, he perceives justice as served.
Donald White does very good at showing the limited and cowardly perspective of the people living in Hamelin who shall likely always feel themselves to be just for eternity. And no matter what is ever said, that will be the line they take, for it is entirely who they are. They showed that quite clearly when they took advantage of the Pied Piper. ... But I am sure Donald White is a much better person than that. :)
You bring up a lot of great points, very fascinating! My personal view is if the Pied Piper brought the children to a place where they could blossom and become more than the sum of their parts he did them a great service. The people of Hamelin seem to be a bad influence, taking their children away may not be "fair" but the results would be great if they were given a better opportunity. A lot is unseen, but there is a definite cause and effect approach to the Pied Piper's decisions. He could be an Angel or Demon, either way justice is served for better or worse.
ReplyDeleteThere is a chance that he is going to do more for these children rather than just raise them his own way... which you mentioned in your reply. We can only hope. The Piper did seem to have an understanding about what these citizens were like and how it affected them. It leads one to think that he may know what these children need that their families cannot give them. Once again, this is a hope that we both share, but we do not know for certain of the truth because the story ends before we find out.
DeleteThe story is a tragedy no matter its interpretation. Push came to shove and both needlessly. All the normal people had to do was keep their word. If they simply did not have the money, the Piper clearly would have renegotiated the deal with or without their consent but without vengeance.
ReplyDeleteA great way to close this topic up. It was a double-sided tragedy. There were negative decisions all around. I do want to make one very clear distinction though. The people of Hamelin had money. They had plenty of money.
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