Peter, Peter, pumpkin eater,
Had a wife and couldn’t keep her;
He put her in a pumpkin shell,
And then he kept her very well.
Peter, Peter, pumpkin eater,
Had another, and didn’t love her;
Peter learned to read and spell,
And then he loved her very well.
Mother Goose
Volland Popular Edition.
Edited by Eulalie Osgood Grover.
Illustrated by Frederick Richardson.
Published by P. F. Volland Company: New York, Chicago & Toronto. 1921.
Elephant's Picture Book 
A lot to think about. 🙂
It is! Did you notice that he kept her in the pumpkin with a stick wedged against the door! I thought he “kept” her as in set her up in a home and took care of her. I didn’t think he was keeping her captive.
As if that wasn’t enough he married again to a wife he didn’t love.
It makes no sense! Which would be fine if it wasn’t so dark!
Elephant
Intellectuals make the best mates–everyone knows that! haha
He just learned to read and spell – I think he remained an idiot!
E
So are a lot of intellectuals!
Oh, I didn’t even notice that she was trapped in the pumpkin! I just read this morning that David Duchovny, probably one of the finest graduates of Princeton (X-Files guy), believes that fashion is a subtle form of bondage. He actually said that “we” meaning men “put” women into high heels. I know he’s trying to be all modern feminist here but when was the last time a man put you into shoes? Women stole the idea of corsets from men. Men just smartened up a bit sooner and discarded them. Sex In The City was written by a woman who obviously loved high heels—unless we want to say that women are so soft-headed that they’re easily brainwashed…
I just don’t like this pumpkin eater at all – who does he think he is?
I agree, women chose to wear high heels for a variety of reasons, but it boils down to wanting to “look good.” People go to great lengths to attract others – high heels are just the first step (silly pun).
High heels don’t work if they hurt, you can’t walk nicely in them, or the discomfort of them makes you irritable (As in – my feet hurt and I want to go home). Most people are not attracted to irritable women in pain who can’t walk. I think men had to be taught to like high heels, and everyone is a bit brainwashed about them.
I say wear them if you like them, but remember people are always more attractive when they are in a good mood.
Elephant
This is a very confusing situation. The first wife could have broken out of that pumpkin, unless she was so well kept she was too fat to get out the window. The second wife was loved once Peter became literate. Yet he kept the first wife well even though he was illiterate. I think there is something I am missing here. No wonder I found English Lit hard when I can’t even understand a nursery rhyme 😉
It is very confusing! I just knew the first part and thought he was taking nice care of his wife in a home he made for her in a pumpkin. But he was literally keeping her in the pumpkin like a jail! Maybe this rhyme has some other meaning. I will investigate.
Elephant
Imagine the mould inside a pumpkin shell after a while 🙂
Lots of ideas about Peter: his wife was cheating so he burned her up and put her ashes in a pumpkin shell, it is an American rhyme because it has a pumpkin, newer version of older rhyme (many are), possibly the story of historical characters, etc. I wouldn’t go with any of these without some research. Where is a pumpkin eater expert when you need one?
Elephant
Exactly; eating pumpkin pies I reckon. That’s where the expert will be at this time of the year!