Themes of _You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown_

Common Core Standards:

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.6.2

Determine a theme or central idea of a text and how it is conveyed through particular details; provide a summary of the text distinct from personal opinions or judgments.

THEMES

“When Charlie Brown went into rehearsal on February 10, 1967, there was no script. There were ten songs, a few long scenes, two producers, one small theatre, six medium-sized actors, director, assistant director, writer, musical supervisor, lighting designer and scenic designer, ten years worth of Charles Schulz’s drawings, and one purpose. The purpose was to put “Peanuts” onstage.

When the show opened on March 7, 1967, there still was no script but “Peanuts” was onstage, so nobody much cared. This published edition is, in effect, a description, written after the fact; of what finally wound up on that stage after everyone had done the best he could in his particular department to accomplish that single purpose. If the play has managed to succeed, it stands as one more tribute to Charles Schulz’s immensely human view of the world and his special ability to say it for all of us.”

(Gesner, Clark,  Foreward)

THEMES

1. Happiness

Happiness is set as a central theme within ordinary, everyday objects and activities found throughout the entire story with the powerful notion of Charlie Brown  being a good man. Treating people with respect and understanding life’s social problems leads to happiness. All the characters finally realize that happiness can be discovered within everyday simple tasks.

2. Playing With the Past

Playing with the past is discovered in Act 1 Scene 5: After School, where Linus expresses his feelings of playing with his childhood blanket. He says that this is playing with the past, and is something that is important in life. Even though Lucy is condescending, his past will never be forgotten. Linus embodies the idea of remembering the past as important, and finding comfort in his memories.

3. Inspiration

Inspiration found in Act 1 Scene 5: The Kite where Charlie Brown really struggles to get his kite in the air like everyone else. Through his motivational words and inspiration, he is able to finally achieve his goal. The kite finally takes off and Charlie Brown is extremely happy at what he accomplished through his ability to inspire himself. Another area where we see the importance of inspiration is in Schroeder. He draws inspiration for his music through the life and works of Beethoven.

4. Over Thinking & Procrastination

Over thinking and procrastination are very big themes that Charlie Brown exhibits throughout. He over thinks talking to his crush, the little red-haired girl, to the point where he is unable to even look at her. Charlie Brown exhibits the theme of procrastination when trying to do his homework in Scene 8: Homework. Along with the other characters, he cannot stop thinking of other things to do besides his homework and ultimately procrastinates himself into his own depression. Even though he knows his homework is priority number one, he still manages to over think and procrastinate until he is not able to accomplish anything.

5. Team Work

This is a theme explicitly expressed throughout Act 2 Scene 3: Baseball Game.  All the characters involved in the team ultimately make group decisions. Working as a team helps Charlie Brown to interact in a positive manner with his friends. Even though he ends up losing the baseball game, the work they do throughout the baseball game emphasizes the theme of working as a team. What matters is not who wins or loses but how the game was played.

Conclusion

These underlying themes are what ultimately brought Charlie Brown into worldwide media reception. The power of the themes can relate to every child’s life and help teach them coping, learning and positive thinking skills that will help for the rest of their lives. This is what really brought the power behind Charlie Brown and his abilities to portray and tell the reader subtle but very important everyday life issues. These themes are what every child should try and live with and at the very least understand their social significance. Clark Gesner was ultimately conveying this message to the readers through his entertaining, illustrated and musical versions of his story You’re A Good Man Charlie Brown.

Works Cited

You’re A Good Man Charlie Brown. Musical Heaven. 5, January, 2006. Web. http://www.musicalheaven.com/y/youre-a-good-man-charlie-brown/. Web. 16, April, 2015.

Gesner, Clark. You’re A Good Man Charlie Brown.New York: Random House, 1967.

Created by: Brian Skube