Monsieur Smokey is Mona’s alter ego. Think of her conversation with him as an interior dialogue with herself. It’s really quite an intricate psychological trope. Until Donna grasps that, her understanding of Mona will remain imperfect.
I have a 40 year old 40 lb bear, made by my sister, covered with cashmere, who I confide my secrets (I’ve keep the Bear’s name secret for 40 years.) My other half sees me talking to this over sized toy and heads straight to the liquor cabinet. Whatever works. Psst! Don’t tell anyone but my bear told me either the Cubs or Boston take the pennant.
I’m not convinced that M. Smokey is an unconscious projection of Mona’s psyche. After all, we’ve seen many strips where Smokey is active while Mona is nowhere to be seen. Bill Watterson was always adamantly opposed to any definitive statement either way about Hobbes’ “reality”, and I feel Smokey operates in a similar way. I have no problem suspending my disbelief.
Think about Vonnegut’s “Slaughterhouse Five”; it might be a book about a man who was abducted by aliens and winds up “unstuck in time”, or a book about a man who thinks he was abducted by aliens and winds up “unstuck in time.” It works either way.
margueritem almost 14 years ago
Donna says it best….
terryxlr almost 14 years ago
Ha ha. Pierre’s head looks weird.
hawgowar almost 14 years ago
She talks to her stuffed bunny because she wants an intelligent conversation.
myming almost 14 years ago
the bunny is mona’s alter-ego…
Sisyphos almost 14 years ago
Monsieur Smokey is Mona’s alter ego. Think of her conversation with him as an interior dialogue with herself. It’s really quite an intricate psychological trope. Until Donna grasps that, her understanding of Mona will remain imperfect.
ladywolf17 almost 14 years ago
Good bunny, very reliable in these chaotic times.
paha_siga almost 14 years ago
I wish I had a reliable bunny like that! Mine have all left me for my children. :(
lewisbower almost 14 years ago
I have a 40 year old 40 lb bear, made by my sister, covered with cashmere, who I confide my secrets (I’ve keep the Bear’s name secret for 40 years.) My other half sees me talking to this over sized toy and heads straight to the liquor cabinet. Whatever works. Psst! Don’t tell anyone but my bear told me either the Cubs or Boston take the pennant.
joefish25 almost 14 years ago
Hey Lew, does your bear think the Phillies have a chance now with Roy Oswalt, or is Philly situated just too close to NY?
The missing M. Smokey almost 14 years ago
…playin’ with fire, Missy.
fritzoid Premium Member almost 14 years ago
I’m not convinced that M. Smokey is an unconscious projection of Mona’s psyche. After all, we’ve seen many strips where Smokey is active while Mona is nowhere to be seen. Bill Watterson was always adamantly opposed to any definitive statement either way about Hobbes’ “reality”, and I feel Smokey operates in a similar way. I have no problem suspending my disbelief.
Think about Vonnegut’s “Slaughterhouse Five”; it might be a book about a man who was abducted by aliens and winds up “unstuck in time”, or a book about a man who thinks he was abducted by aliens and winds up “unstuck in time.” It works either way.
The missing M. Smokey almost 14 years ago
Sheesh… thank you Professor Zoid for your latest limp analysis… In fact, Mona is an anthropomorphic projection of my bunny psyche.
Frankr almost 14 years ago
Other strips are filled with talking animals. Maybe I shouldn’t assume that M. Smokey is a Hobbes-like figment.
Hmmm……
fritzoid Premium Member almost 14 years ago
Frankr, you shouldn’t assume that Hobbes is a figment, either…
razorback2824 almost 14 years ago
And yet, when I say the same thing, I got reamed for it. Okay, so I was doing it while going off on somebody,
Looks like I finally know who has all the stroke on this site.
Adamantius almost 14 years ago
fritzoid, sometimes mona herself has spoken about the things Smokey sais as her imagination.