The beginning of this strip demonstrates how Patty and Violet are slowly becoming a double-act, reinforcing each other's opinions and building up the will to confront Lucy. Lucy is also true to form here, fussing and throwing a tantrum about "not playing her way." (That generic reason for the confrontation and tantrum seems kind of weak, but it serves to keep the focus on the characters and their reactions, and not whatever game it is they're playing.)
This strip also demonstrates that Lucy's behavior is, to some extent, an act she puts on to attempt to get her way. When it's evident that her ruckus is to no avail she comes around quickly.
The drawings of her tantrum are very energetic. Panels five through ten show particularly varied reactions. Schulz must have put some thought into how to illustrate characters pitching fits or otherwise expressing anger/dismay. Note, Charlie Brown hit his own head against a tree not long ago, and now Lucy is doing it too.
I'm not sure I'd agree that "When it's evident that her ruckus is to no avail she comes around quickly"...It seems to me that Lucy believes that when something doesn't go her way, the appropriate thing to do is throw a tantrum. Then once this obligation is met, she's free to do something else, i.e., play a different way.
ReplyDeleteThe "running far, far into the distance" shot (panel 10) is unlike any other PEANUTS panel that I can recall. Sure, characters would run into the distance now and again, but never that FAR into the distance. It was effective here because it served to exaggerate Lucy's tantrum.
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