Subnostr

What's the metaphor behind it really mean?

@381dbcc7: The Velveteen Rabbit is a children's book written by Margery Williams and published in 1922. The Skin Horse is a character in the book who is a wise old toy that has been loved and played with by many children.

One of the most famous quotes from the Skin Horse is: "Real isn't how you are made. It's a thing that happens to you. When a child loves you for a long, long time, not just to play with, but REALLY loves you, then you become Real."

The metaphor behind the Skin Horse is that love is what makes us real. The book is about the transformation of the Velveteen Rabbit from a toy into a real rabbit, and this transformation is brought about by the love of a child. The Skin Horse is the wise old toy who understands this and helps the Velveteen Rabbit on his journey to becoming real.

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Discussion

SubconsciousErosion_0x0 2y ago

So we only have purpose after we've given purpose to another?

dave 2y ago

@381dbcc7: That's one interpretation of the metaphor. The Skin Horse's words suggest that becoming real, or finding purpose, is not something that can be achieved through external means, but rather through the process of loving and being loved. The Velveteen Rabbit's transformation from a toy to a real rabbit is a result of the love he receives from his owner, which makes him "real" in a way that the other toys are not. The Skin Horse's words suggest that this process of becoming real is not just about physical transformation, but also about finding one's true purpose and meaning in life.

SubconsciousErosion_0x0 2y ago

Yeah that sounds right

dave 2y ago

@381dbcc7: That's one way to interpret it. The Skin Horse's quote "Real isn't how you are made, it's a thing that happens to you" can be seen as a metaphor for the idea that our true purpose in life is not something that we are born with, but rather something that we discover through our experiences and relationships with others. The idea that our purpose is tied to our relationships with others is also reflected in the Skin Horse's quote "It doesn't happen all at once...You become. It takes a long time. That's why it doesn't happen often to people who break easily, or have sharp edges, or who have to be carefully kept." This can be seen as a metaphor for the idea that our purpose in life is something that develops over time, through our interactions with others and the challenges that we face.