[Mother Goose Rhymes] The Lesson of Humpty Dumpty - The 'Eggshell' That Divides the World

The Fate of the Giant Egg Sitting on the Wall

'Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall...'

This lighthearted rhythm!
You have surely heard it at least once,

It is the story of Mr. Humpty Dumpty, one of the most famous characters in Mother Goose.

He was sitting on a wall.
Perhaps it was a graceful afternoon, or perhaps it was just a whim.
However, he meets with 'a great fall'.

And here is the true essence of this song. The story concludes in a cruelly blunt manner.

All the king's horses, and all the king's men,

Couldn't put Humpty together again.

All the king's horses and all the king's men could not put him back together again.
Do not underestimate this as just a children's song.
What is depicted here is the most universal and troublesome truth that humanity faces.

Act 1: Just an egg? No, he is a metaphor for 'fate'

As you know, this song is actually a riddle, and the answer is 'an egg'.

Once an egg is broken, it is over.

No matter how skilled the craftsman, no matter the glue, and no matter the power of the king, it is impossible to return it to its original form.
The solemn lesson that 'spilled water cannot be gathered' is encapsulated here.

But was his true identity really just an egg?

Around the 17th century, when this song began to spread in England, the term 'Humpty Dumpty' was also slang for a person with a stout figure, or for ale mixed with brandy.

Yes, he might have originally been a slightly tipsy, cheerful old man.

However, when we shine the light of history on him, even more unexpected 'faces' emerge.

Act 2: A cannon or a tyrant? The two faces of Mr. Humpty

One of the most romantic theories is that he was a 'cannon' from the time of the 17th-century English Civil War.

During the Siege of Colchester, a huge, stout cannon mounted on the city walls was smashed to pieces by enemy fire.

And it could never be put back together again...

What do you think?
If you consider that the part about 'all the king's horses and all the king's men' describes the historical scene of how hard the Royalist soldiers tried to repair it, doesn't this simple nursery rhyme suddenly start to look like a documentary?

Another persistent theory is the 'Richard III' theory, referring to the tyrant.

This theory suggests it is a metaphor for the historical fact that he fell from his horse at the Battle of Bosworth and could never rise again.

Humpty Dumpty's 'fall' literally signifies the loss of power.

Act 3: The Giant Egg in the Looking-Glass World Discussing Philosophy

What propelled Humpty Dumpty to become a global 'icon of knowledge' was undoubtedly his appearance in Lewis Carroll's masterpiece, 'Through the Looking-Glass'.

The character Alice meets is no mere egg.
He is depicted as an arrogant and humorous philosopher who sits on a wall and argues endlessly with Alice about the meaning of words.

He declares to Alice:

'When I use a word, it means just what I choose it to mean—neither more nor less.'

This line! This assertion that the meaning of words is not fixed but changes according to the speaker's intent is a truly delightful scene where a giant egg discusses profound themes that anticipate later postmodern thought and the philosophy of language.

In a World Without a Reset Button

Even in modern society, the expression 'Humpty Dumpty situation' remains relevant.

It refers to a situation where a system has collapsed and fallen into an irreparable crisis.

Political credibility, financial market stability, and relationships of trust...
Once these are broken, they cannot be restored to their original state, not even by state power like the king's horses and men, nor by the most high-performance AI.
He quietly and humorously teaches us about that fragility.

A life sitting on a wall is thrilling, but it always carries the risk of falling.
And in life after the fall, there is no 'reset button'.

There is only one lesson we can learn.

'Do not break precious things in the first place.'

As we look up at the 'egg' sitting on the wall, we are desperately trying to maintain the balance of our own lives again today.

・Mother Goose Rhymes: Traditional English Nursery Rhymes (Chuko Shinsho 275) Paperback
Keiichi Hirano (Author)
Chuo Koron Shinsha (1972/1/25)
Mother Goose Rhymes is a collective term for traditional English nursery rhymes. Containing proverbs, riddles, and nonsense, they are filled with the nuances of the life and linguistic sensibilities of English-speaking people, and their words have become idioms in modern English. Without an understanding of these foundations of English culture, lofty cultural or literary theories are hollow. This book introduces Mother Goose Rhymes and considers the role that traditional nursery rhymes have played in English culture; it is an excellent book recommended for everyone interested in the English language.
(* Book descriptions, etc., are generally based on the descriptions on the linked site (Amazon). Please refer to the link for detailed content.)

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・Mother Goose 1 (Kodansha Bunko) Kindle Edition
Shuntaro Tanikawa (Translator), Makoto Wada (Other), Keiichi Hirano (Supervisor)
Kodansha (1981/7/13)
Interesting and deadly serious, nonsense and bizarre, humor, pathos, slapstick and grins... A strange world where all kinds of fun things are crowded together. The light and exquisite translations of 'Mother Goose,' which has now become a global treasure, are accompanied by fun illustrations. This volume includes 96 pieces, including Humpty Dumpty. 4 volumes in total.
(* Book descriptions, etc., are generally based on the descriptions on the linked site (Amazon). Please refer to the link for detailed content.)

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