Snufkin

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Snufkin
Mymble's Daughter
(older half-sister)
The Joxter (father)
And numerous other half-brothers and -sisters

Snufkin (original

Joxter, and is half-brother to the Mymble's daughter and Little My
.

Description

Snufkin wears old green clothes and a wide-brimmed hat that he has had since birth. He lives in a tent, smokes a pipe and plays the harmonica. Snufkin also has a great dislike for authority figures such as the

Hattifatteners in his garden, causing them to grow and drive him out. He has a great hatred for all symbols of private property, even losing his temper with the Hemulen after the latter attempts to put up a sign declaring "Moominvalley".[5]

The age of Snufkin is difficult to determine. He has had more serious and mature conversations with

Moominpappa and is notoriously wise or mysterious. However, he enjoys playing with Moomintroll and other children, and sometimes acts just as childish as them. He is also referred to as young and/or a child multiple in the series, and is younger than Little My, though he is easily twice her size. In problem situations, others often turn to the help of Snufkin, as he enjoys the unreserved admiration of the inhabitants of the valley for his multi-consciousness. His advice is also followed. There are intersections with a wide range of philosophical views on the way Snufkin thinks. He is undoubtedly one of the most multi-faceted characters in The Moomins. Snufkin has said that no one should own more than they can handle, and he cannot understand his friend Sniff's affection for things and worldly things. Snufkin once even throws his tent in the gorge, because he thinks it is not worth clinging to useless property, but instead can write a poem when he sees something beautiful.[6]

Inspiration

Tove Jansson based the character of Snufkin on her friend and one-time fiancé, Atos Wirtanen.[7] A typical feature of Snufkin, to come and go independently without caring for others, is inspired by the nature of Atos Wirtanen; at the time, Wirtanen was the center of Jansson's life, but Wirtanen was so busy working as an MP that he came and went, leading to the failure of their relationship.[8] Wirtanen's style was also borrowed in the recognizable green hat of Snufkin.[9]

Reception

The character has a mostly positive reception.[10][11][3]

See also

References

  1. ^ Jones 1984b, pp. 29–30.
  2. ISBN 9780857864260
    . Retrieved 16 December 2016 – via Google Books.
  3. ^
    ISBN 9781135104603
    . Retrieved 16 December 2016 – via Google Books.
  4. ^ "Hemulens, great lovers of rules and responsibility". Moomin.com. 16 January 2023. Retrieved 27 March 2024.
  5. ^ Jansson 1974, p. 77.
  6. ISBN 978-952-222-363-0
    .
  7. ^ "Who inspired Tove when creating Snufkin?". Moomin. 2015-08-04. Retrieved 2020-10-05.
  8. ISBN 9789513169633
    .
  9. ^ Laitinen, Anne (November 7, 2006). "Muumit ensimmäisenä lehtenä julkaissut Ny Tid palkittiin". Turun Sanomat (in Finnish). Turku: TS-Yhtymä.
  10. ISBN 9780805765632
    . Retrieved 16 December 2016 – via Google Books.
  11. ISBN 9781446434475
    . Retrieved 16 December 2016 – via Google Books.

Bibliography

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