The Moon
When it comes to similes, those looking for them in the text of Goodnight Moon are, frankly, out of luck. The same holds somewhat true of metaphors; at least any that show a clear intention on the part of the author. However, like so many other stories that are simply described (like, for instance, The Old Testament), the book is a treasure trove for the reader-assisted world of metaphorical interpretation. With that in mind, take these examples with an abundance of grains of salt along with the disclaimer that there is not one shred of evidence of authorial intention concerning any of them. One of the most predominant metaphorical interpretations of the book, however, is that the moon itself is distinctly a metaphor for feminine protection, especially maternal protection.
The Mush
Less widely disseminated and more regularly rejected is the interesting proposition that the bowl of mush is a metaphor for death. This conceptualization is primarily dependent upon the second mention of the ambiguously defined foodstuff. Right before “Goodnight Mush” is one of the most startling and disconcerting moments in the story for many parents: “Goodnight nobody.” The theory goes thusly: mush becomes a metaphor for death because of its proximity to saying goodnight to nobody…no body. Get it?
The Old Lady Whispering Hush
Freedom of speech is freedom from death. So, perhaps, there is also a connection to the death metaphor in the old lady hushing the little rabbit. More likely, though, is that the (loosely paraphrased) lyrics to “Fight the Power” are apt to an analysis of Goodnight Moon for the reasons of exactitude: her desire to censor the young rabbit makes her an enemy of free speech. She’s the power. She must be fought. And she is.
The Great Green Room
Before the unexpected appearance of the voice of authority arrives, Goodnight Moon is essentially a shopping list for upward mobility in a consumer-driven capitalist economy. (Yes, it is time to apply a Marxist interpretation toward metaphor in the book.)
· Telephone
· Children’s toy
· Art
· Child-sized replication of adult reality
· Pets
· Fashion accessories
· Clothing
· Food
All of which are found in a “great” (conspicuous consumption) “green room” (the color of money.)
What’s Missing from This Picture?
The mother may be missing (unless she is really old and crotchety), but as previously stated, she lingers on in the form of the feminine moon. Where’s the rabbit’s dad? Or any mention of him? Trick question: the father is there metaphorically in a quite prominent way. Notice that the description of the room mentions the telephone? Notice that even mush and nobody are worthy of a loving “goodnight” but the telephone. Take a guess why. The phone is a metaphor for the absent parent of 20th century American life.
