Humpty Dumpty - Does he actually need to be fixed?

[Heidi M Simone]

“Humpty Dumpty doesn’t need a surgeon. He simply needs to find himself.” (loc 594)

Humpty Dumpty is just a silly nursery rhyme, right? It might tell children don’t make careless mistakes or don’t push your luck!

However, what if it wasn’t just a silly nursery rhyme? What if Humpty Dumpty could be a symbol of something more?

When I read this section of this seemingly simple nursery rhyme so many thoughts came to my mind.

For example:

• How often do we say or think that someone needs to be “fixed” whether we’re reading a story or interacting with a person in our daily lives?
• What kind of mindset does one need to have to think the opposite of the above question?
• Is there ever a case where one does need to be “fixed”?

What are your thoughts?

[Sarah Nichols 7]

While it is a sweet idea that Humpty doesn't need to be "fixed" it's also not practical. If Humpty wasn't put back together, he'd still be scattered in pieces unable to move or do anything. I think we often find ourselves when we are broken. Putting ourselves back together is part of that discovery process.

[Heidi M Simone]

While it is a sweet idea that Humpty doesn't need to be "fixed" it's also not practical. If Humpty wasn't put back together, he'd still be scattered in pieces unable to move or do anything. I think we often find ourselves when we are broken. Putting ourselves back together is part of that discovery process.

It’s interesting because I completely agree with Humpty’s physical form needs to be fixed, but thinking about it metaphorically, are any of us broken? Or do we experience hardships and even trauma that prevents us to be our true selves? Instead saying someone is broken, I wonder if there’s a way to say that we need help in working through those hardships and trauma to feel like ourselves again?

When I was teaching, I would never say a child was broken though they clearly have come from an unstable and sometimes frightening home life. I wouldn’t see him/her as not whole, but would do what I could (along with a team of people) to assist that child in any way that we could. So, if that child isn’t broken, then can adults be broken or do they need outside (and sometimes inside) assistance to help find peace again (assuming it was possible to find peace again for them)?

[jessle]

A day before reading this book, I used the Humpty Dumpty story to describe something to a friend. When I came across this chapter, I therefore found myself pausing to reflect for a while.

Humpty signifies that yes, while we may fall, we can always get back up again. It is necessary to break in order to be put back together again. I wouldn't see it as being fixed, rather being recreated into something stronger.
Much like a broken plate being repaired , you may see where the cracks were, but it is now a different object entirely. Beautiful and strong in its own unique way.

We are not broken, but rather imperfect, and that imperfection makes us unique. That is what makes us resilient, truly appreciate our inner light.

That is my take on it.

[Heidi M Simone]

A day before reading this book, I used the Humpty Dumpty story to describe something to a friend. When I came across this chapter, I therefore found myself pausing to reflect for a while.

Humpty signifies that yes, while we may fall, we can always get back up again. It is necessary to break in order to be put back together again. I wouldn't see it as being fixed, rather being recreated into something stronger.
Much like a broken plate being repaired , you may see where the cracks were, but it is now a different object entirely. Beautiful and strong in its own unique way.

We are not broken, but rather imperfect, and that imperfection makes us unique. That is what makes us resilient, truly appreciate our inner light.

That is my take on it.

Ooo…I like the “recreated into something stronger” thought and I agree! I agree, we aren’t broken, but imperfect and it makes us resilient. Thank you for taking the time to read and share your thoughts!

[Julia DeLaney]

I always looked at the nursery rhyme as though he fell apart it wasn't over, and he can be put back together again. There still may be cracks that need healing but in the end, he learned how the pieces of himself fit together making him who he is.

[Izzy Kruger]

I think that you can also look at the last part of the nursery rhyme and find some wisdom there:

"All the king's horses and all the king's men.
Couldn't put Humpty together again."

We can look at those lines and discover that if a person doesn't want to fix themselves, the people around them will not be able to fix them, no matter how strong and influential they are.

[Heidi M Simone]

I always looked at the nursery rhyme as though he fell apart it wasn't over, and he can be put back together again. There still may be cracks that need healing but in the end, he learned how the pieces of himself fit together making him who he is.

It’s so funny. I never thought much about this silly nursery rhyme, but now that I’m thinking about it more, I absolutely agree with what you’re saying. He may have cracks, but he learned to put the pieces of himself together and that makes him who he is.

Thank you for sharing your thoughts!

[Heidi M Simone]

I think that you can also look at the last part of the nursery rhyme and find some wisdom there:

"All the king's horses and all the king's men.
Couldn't put Humpty together again."

We can look at those lines and discover that if a person doesn't want to fix themselves, the people around them will not be able to fix them, no matter how strong and influential they are.

Oh wow! I absolutely love this and it makes perfect sense! We need to want to help ourselves and not rely on others.

Thank you for sharing!

[Alice Fu]

This is a rather interesting topic. this reminds me of a discussion I had with my friends about a life condition I had where it was discussed that maybe my patterns of thinking weren't a genuine issue, but rather a sign that I belonged in a different format of society. At the same time though, there are a lot of character issues that reflect a genuine problem which indicates a possible need of fixing.

[Shillah Andeso]

I don't think that sometimes it's up to us to decide whether someone needs to be fixed. Sometimes this needs to be a journey of self discovery and decide on the course to be taken. I therefore do not think Humpty Dumpty needs fixing until he realizes that himself.

[Laney K]

I feel like it could be taken as something deeper and how you need to help yourself before someone else can help you, but it is also just a nursery rhyme so I don't take it as that deep

[AvishaJain_13]

Its really mind blowing how a simple, mundane topic like the rhyme Humpty Dumpty can be so thought provoking. I do not believe that he actually needs fixing by someone else, I think that he just needs to figure himself out with time.

[Kayla Archer]

I agree with this idea to a degree. To say no one needs to be fixed is untrue because we all have a sin nature and have areas that need improvement. But to believe that people need to change their entire personality is wrong. Change is good, but I’m not going to date or marry a person to change them from mr. Hyde to dr. Jekyll.

[Hannah Jones 8]

I love this view on the classic nursery tale! I believe that a lot of what we are told as children conditions us into who we become as adults. Particularly, in this case the idea that we can somehow ‘fix’ everything, whether that be problems - that are frankly far outside of our control - people or ourselves. As we get older this idea can become toxic and you see the saviour complex play out in many different situations, co-dependant relationships and not being accountable for oneself - waiting for someone else to come along and ‘fix’ you. Maybe we’d see less of this if we weren’t conditioned at such a young age?? Who knows.