The True Meaning of Smekday is a rather absurd book about the taking over of planet earth by aliens called the boovs. While it seems like a simple and light-hearted book, I think that parts of the boovs' past is eluding to what might happen to us in the future. And the outlook is not that good.
The first part of the boovs' history that could match up to our possible future is that the book mentions that the reason why the boovs had to leave their planet. The boovs had to leave their planet because of severe pollution. Their planet was no longer inhabitable. I think this part of their past is hinting at our possible future. Global warming is a major problem as of now, and it is mainly caused by pollution. A big part of Global warming in our society is that many people are denying that it even exists. This was a huge part in the downfall of the boovs' planet. They denied that they were even polluting the planet, so nothing was done to solve that problem. So even though this book may seem like it was just written for pleasure, I believe this book was also written to send a message.
The second and more sinister part of the boovs' history that I feel could be eluding to our future is that it is mentioned that in the boovs' past "God dies of asphyxiation". God died for breathing in polluted air. For us humans, God is a symbol of hope. So if God dies, it can also be said that hope dies. If hope "dies" in our future, who knows what could happen to this world.
In the end, The True Meaning of Smekday is basically just a silly book. But there are small things in this book that pop up when you least expect it, that makes think differently about this book, and about the world.
I like your thinking about the book and think it is interesting. I like the conection that you made to today's society.
ReplyDeleteYes. Even though the book is hard to understand and very strange, I think that inferences can be made about how the book can give you insight to society and the world.
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