Literary Analysis #2
By Hunter Burgtorf
Book Title: 13 Little Blue Envelopes
Prompt: Literary Search (Symbols)
Author: Maureen Johnson
“A truly strong person does not need the approval of others any more than a lion needs the approval of sheep.”
Lions have long been recognized as the symbol for strength and courage; they are fierce and brave. When Ginny Blackstone’s aunt suddenly died, she found that her crazy Aunt Peg had left her with 13 little blue envelopes. Each envelope had a letter, and in that letter there was a task that Ginny must complete before opening the next one. Aunt Peg sent Ginny on a thrilling adventure across Europe to find herself. Shortly after meeting Keith, her eventual boyfriend, Ginny was sent to Scotland to find Mari Adams. Mari was Aunt Peg’s guru and a painter. While Ginny was visiting her, Mari drew a lion on Ginny’s shoulder. Throughout the rest of the story I learn how the gentle strength that the lion possesses represents Ginny’s own view of herself and how she reacts to the many obstacles that she encounters through her life. Over the course of Ginny’s adventure the lion slowly fades and Ginny realizes that her strength, courage, and bravery did not only come from her aunt, but these things lay within her as well. She just had to find them.
Mari Adams was an artist. And like most artists, she was different. Mari lived in a house that had each room painted a different color, her assistant wore overalls with magnetic alphabet letters stitched to them, and she seemed to have an interest in painting women. From the moment that Ginny learned that she would have to find Mari, she was extremely hesitant about what she would discover while spending time with the guru. In Aunt Peg’s letter, all she said was that Mari would know what Ginny would need, even if Ginny didn’t know it herself. Shortly after they met, Mari showed Ginny and Keith a picture of a man and woman becoming engaged. At first, Ginny just saw a simple photo of an ordinary couple. But then Mari showed her the focal point of the picture. It was a small mirror, and in that mirror whoever was looking in it could see the artist. He had painted himself into his own picture. Mari explained that sometimes artists like to show the world who they are. Artists want to remember and be remembered. That’s why they paint.
The painting struck a chord in Ginny’s mind; remembering and being remembered. Ginny had always felt she was the person who stuck to the rules and stayed conformed in her own little bubble; her aunt was the one who went on crazy adventures and took risks. As much as Ginny wanted to be exciting like her aunt was, she just didn’t know how. And she didn’t have the courage to try. Once Mari discovered that Ginny’s horoscope sign was a Leo and explained to Ginny that Aunt Peg’s was an Aquarius, Mari drew a picture on Ginny’s shoulder. She told Ginny that the lion wouldn’t last forever, and it would fade. But fading is how the drawing should be anyway. Ginny looked into the mirror and saw a beautiful lion drawn on her shoulder staring back at her. In this moment, Ginny understood what her aunt had meant by saying that Mari would know what she would need. Ginny needed strength and courage to discover who she was. Ginny had decided to take the biggest risk of her life: traveling to Europe alone and following directions from her deceased aunt. Taking this risk took courage, and Ginny’s adventure was only just beginning.
After leaving Mari Adam’s house, Ginny set off on her trek across Europe. Over the next three weeks she would meet new friends, go to exotic places, and take many risks. But through everything her lion stayed with her. The drawing on her shoulder was a gentle reminder to be brave. Ginny needed that, a little nudge to push her in the right direction. Ginny had experienced things that some people would never get to see in their lifetime. Her eyes and heart had been opened to the world around her, and she saw no boundaries anymore. Nothing could hold her back. She was set free. Everyday Ginny’s companion, her lion, would fade a little. I initially thought that by the lion fading, it meant that Ginny didn’t need that reminder anymore. But the more that I thought about it, I came to the conclusion that the lion wasn’t fading from her body, it was becoming her. She was the lion and she was strong. Ginny had learned that she didn’t need her aunt to make her brave and exciting; she was a fearless woman on her own. And through her travels, Ginny learned that by having the courage to take chances and risks, she would be more fulfilled than ever before.
Throughout the book, the lion was the symbol for gentle strength. Ginny had to go to an extreme to discover what lay within her, but without trying, she would have never known. She left the comfort of what she knew and delved into the unknown, and from there she became the best version of herself that she could be. The lion symbolized the journey that Ginny was taking. By the end of the story, the lion had completely faded. When the drawing was gone, Ginny didn’t need the lion to help bring her courage and strength. The moment that the lion was gone was the moment that Ginny felt sure of who she was and was confident in the life that she was leading. She had become the lion, she had found her truth, and she was free.
