One needs to also remember that Lila is a child, and that is also a factor in her thinking. Sometimes, children can see things without thinking of the extra consequences. Aka some of us when we were a child were amazed by all the brand new cars and houses. And then when we grow up, we realize that stuff costs money.
I always remembered her line about Snoopy 'going home to settle his affairs.' She says so calmly, 'you could say goodbye to all your old friends, and then come and meet me at my place.' To her it sounds simple, but to him it is something very difficult to do.
I kind of thought of Lila and Snoopy in terms of like an old relationship. Aka you broke it off a long time ago, but then when you found out the person was in trouble, you kind of dropped everything to help her. While she had all these remembrances and kind of rekindling an idea of 'it could be like this again,' you were torn because you knew it was over and your life had gone on without her. However, you do kind of yearn for something that had passed.
Strange-when I saw this when I was 8-10 years old, I never would have considered that last paragraph analogy. Charlie Brown and the gang really makes one thing years after childhood has gone.
It's me, your lovable dictator! Uh-oh. -Bender, Futurama
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jschillig
16 years ago
Funny you should use that analogy. In the original sequence of strips that inspired the movie, we saw Snoopy's thoughts at receiving the letter from Lila, who we still hadn't seen: "We had something once but now it's over," making it seem as if she WAS an old girlfriend. (There had even been another sequence of strips earlier in which Lila came, unseen, to visit Snoopy but he didn't want to see her...again, it sounded as if she were an old flame.)
Then, when we actually saw Lila was a human, it came as a total surprise. Afterward, Linus revealed the whole history to Charlie Brown. (There was no part about Snoopy going back to Lila, though...once he'd visited her, he just came back.)
I kind of liked the ending to that sequence. Charlie Brown lamented that "I bet he wishes he was still her dog." Linus replied, "I doubt it, Charlie Brown...he'd never have been happy in an apartment." The last panel showed Snoopy in one of his World War I Flying Ace fantasies...showing that Snoopy could be happy ANYWHERE as long as he had his imagination!
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branenj001
15 years ago
I felt bad for Lila, because she hadn't wanted to give Snoopy up in the first place but her parents gave her no choice when they moved. She had no say in it. I agree that as a child she didn't quite understand that Snoopy had been with Charlie Brown a long time at this point and had made himself a home and friends and a life that unfortunatly did not include her. That had to sting a little.
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soozzbrat555
15 years ago
I have mixed feelings about the guit trip analogy.Im sure Lila wanted Snoopy and Snoppy loved her too but neither had any say on waht happened.Snoopy could not not fight lila's parents in returning him and Lila had to move wherever her parents wnet.As for Charlie brown,those two loved each other too,Im sure when Snoopy was first bought by him, it took time to adjust but Snooopy grew to love his new ownwer and freinds and the relationship stayed strong for several yrs and had its ups and downs like any owner pet relationship like when Charlie was frustrated at Snoopy's comings and and goings.lila and Snoopy may have had tough times too.It is possible that even with the Peanuts gang Snoopy still thought of Lila from time to time and likley missed her and wondered about her.Im sure Lila really loved Snooopy too and found it hard to see him go even though it may have appeared that she moved on by having a cat and living a regular life but she must have wondered about Snoopy from time to time or often.in real life even when things change people often never forget a close freind and or beloved pet taht was once in thier lives but is no longer.it seems like Lila had been missing him for a long time but tried to make the feeling go away but couldnt.Maybe when she became ill,that desire increased furhter that she wrote a ltter to let Snoopy know waht was happening too her.even if she had not become sick there still may have been a chance that she'd try to contact Snoopy ,but maybe not as inssitently as she would have as she did in the hospital.Either way I think SNoopy being the nice dog that is would have come too see her.When Snoopy got the leeter i could tell Snoopy recognized his former owner and had concern for her,he must have missed her to some degree.It was more than just kindness and politeness to prompted him to see his freind,the two were special to each other.If for Some reason Charlie Brown had to give Snoopy up, I think Snooopy would have made the trip too see him wheter he(Charlie) was ill or he just needed to see his old freind.Im sure CB would have begged Snoopy to stay.Regardless it is hard to choose between two people im sure he might have stayed with lila had dogs been welcome but still may have had the desire to See the Peanuts gang from time to time or visa versa.Lila must have somehow contacted someone to find out who currently owned Snoopy in order write to him.After Snoopy came home the peanuts were angry with him for asking for his things back, it made me wonder if Snooopy wished he'd stayed with Lila.If Snooopy styed with Lila he reallt should have taken Woodstock with him.
I would have enjoyed seeing Charlie and Lila meet and arranged visitations with Snooopy so Snoopy could enjoy all his freinds
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prodigylover
15 years ago
Cut a little girl some slack, guys! She's all of eight years-old and was facing a life-threatening illness.
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uruseiranma
15 years ago
"She's all of eight years-old and was facing a life-threatening illness."
She wasn't under a life-threatening illness. It's never explained just what she has. The summary of her letter was that she had been in the hospital for some time and was lonely, requesting him to visit.
"I...Drink...YOUR...MILKSHAKE!!" -Daniel Plainview, "There Will Be Blood"
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avortac4 (3458)
3 years ago
"..showing that Snoopy could be happy ANYWHERE as long as he had his imagination! "
That's only one possible interpretation.
Another is, that it shows how much more FREE Snoopy is in a proper house with proper doghouse to play with, where he can UNLEASH his imagination. In a tight, claustrophobic apartment, his imagination would've withered away and he couldn't have been happy.
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