Obviously Pippi's super strong, but why do you think Astrid Lindgren made her that way? Sure it's funny to think of her lifting cows and horses and policemen, so comic relief is part of the reason, but we think there's a bigger one. Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster created Superman when society needed a hero to battle bullies like Hitler and the Nazis. Pippi came along a decade or so later to take on a few bullies of her own: institutions that demand conformity; societies that over-regulate children; and anyone who's ever used the phrase throw like a girl as an insult instead of a compliment.
Questions About Strength and Skill
- There's no doubt Pippi is physically strong (you try lifting a cow). In what other ways is Pippi strong? In what ways, if any, might she be described as weak?
- How do you think you would react if a nine-year-old appeared in your town and started lifting large animals and people? How do the other characters in the book react to Pippi's incredible strength? What do you make of their reactions? Are they under-reacting? Over-reacting? Why do you think Lindgren made the characters react the way they do?
- We're never given any explanation for Pippi's super strength—she's kind of like a superhero with no origin story. Why do you think Pippi is so strong? And why do you think Lindgren didn't bother to offer any explanations for Pippi's abilities?
Chew on This
Pippi's physical strength is what makes Pippi the remarkable character she is; without it, she would be a completely different and far less compelling character.
Pippi's physical strength isn't really that essential to her character; without it, she'd still be just as dynamic, capable, and interesting.