The longer I’m a father, the more I’m fascinated by the imaginative play of my daughters and the world(s) they create for themselves. It made me think of the Calvin and Hobbes comics I read as a kid. Nothing against the Spaceman Spiff alter ego, but the most iconic part of Calvin’s imaginative play should be obvious: Hobbes.
Hobbes is Calvin’s stuffed tiger and best friend. He’s sassy and fierce and he loves tuna. He can’t get behind half of Calvin’s inventions and risky adventures. Despite being a domesticated housecat in many ways, the wild tiger still lives inside of him, even if it’s just to destroy Calvin every day after school.
I love that over the years it’s left ambiguous as to whether he’s real or imaginary. Is Hobbes part of Calvin’s psyche or is he a real tiger that only Calvin can see? Especially with how involved my oldest daughter gets in her imaginative play, I love the idea of Hobbes being pure imagination. If Hobbes is part of Calvin’s psyche, it makes their antics that much better.
Think about it for a second: If Hobbes is really just part of Calvin, what does that say about Hobbes crushing on Susie? All a young boy trying to avoid liking a neighbor girl. And what about all the times Calvin makes Hobbes do his homework? Just a way that Calvin’s mind makes the monotony of schoolwork more palatable. And just think of all those moments that Hobbes would make a sassy remark and Calvin barks back in anger? That’s Calvin’s internal dialogue coming out.
Regardless of what you make of Hobbes’s sentience, he’s the best friend a young boy could ask for. It makes me wonder how lonely Calvin might have been to dream up such a friend. The only boy his age I can remember him interacting with is his bully Moe. Kids are resilient though and an imaginative child like Calvin took care of himself and in some ways I think that’s beautiful. It takes a special kid to be his own best friend.
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