In Search of Old Gods

 

I recently found out the numerous copies of  "The Wind in the Willows" are abridged in such a way that the "Piper at the Gates of Dawn" chapter is removed. This was/is done to protect children from the content as it is considered to be both "disturbing" and "frightening". Hmm. A great white protestant bit of educational engineering being exerted, or so I suspect. "Damn those simplistic, influential and infantile authors and their devious spiritual explorations" ... presumably barked sometime in the early 20th century etc. and still common today. Don't mention God's wrath and judgement, eternal damnation and the numerous acts of extreme violence included in the Bible.

I've always loved the Wind in the Willows and think that the "Piper" chapter as one of the finest and most moving things I've ever read. A simply beautiful piece of writing. For me it marks a high point in the book but fully understand that it's a significant leap from the peaceful riverbank activity and the Toad related chaos of the other chapters - but that's fine. Is there some sort of rule that says a tale can't be developed or explored in different directions as it is being told?

The Piper chapter never seemed out of place to me, it's like a dream sequence within it's own context and true to the magic of the story. It captures that very primal mystery of a simple, animal encounter with the gods. The moment when you have a sense of things bigger and outside of yourself that can't be explained or fully grasped ... but in that moment very real. Something I suspect most children will have a developing sense of and that is naturally understood and has been experienced though perhaps not believed in, by most rational and reasonable people. Don't deny children the opportunity to explore, I could go on but ...