Misplaced Pages

#468531

42-512: Blue Lagoon may refer to: Arts and entertainment [ edit ] The Blue Lagoon (novel) , a 1908 novel by Henry De Vere Stacpoole The Blue Lagoon (1923 film) , a lost British-South African silent film, based on the novel, starring Molly Adair and Arthur Pusey The Blue Lagoon (1949 film) , a British film, based on the novel, starring Jean Simmons and Donald Houston The Blue Lagoon (1980 film) , an American-Australian film, based on

84-475: A European vogue for generations. It is to The Blue Lagoon as a bit of coloured glass to a great emerald. Claud Cockburn wrote in 1972 that the novel "almost perfectly exemplifies what readers wanted, and for that matter still want, from the Pacific Island novel." Robert Hardin wrote in 1996: The sheer bulk of natural description in the novel tends to push aside the narrative, further undercutting

126-533: A backdrop of modern moral decay. Stacpoole’s work serves as a bridge between the absence of sexual themes in Victorian literature and their prevalence in authors like D. H. Lawrence . Malcolm Muggeridge even considered Lady Chatterley's Lover (1928) a "lineal descendant" of The Blue Lagoon . Six films have been based on this novel: Following the triumph of The Blue Lagoon , Stacpoole wrote two sequels: In Australia, Canada, New Zealand and South Africa,

168-682: A former floating nightclub in Barrow-in-Furness, United Kingdom See also [ edit ] Laguna Azul (disambiguation) Topics referred to by the same term [REDACTED] This disambiguation page lists articles associated with the title Blue Lagoon . If an internal link led you here, you may wish to change the link to point directly to the intended article. Retrieved from " https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Blue_Lagoon&oldid=1218818217 " Categories : Disambiguation pages Place name disambiguation pages Hidden categories: Short description

210-475: A galley cook on an island in the South Pacific Ocean following a shipwreck. The galley cook, Paddy Button, assumes responsibility for the children and teaches them how to survive, cautioning them to avoid the "arita" berries, which he calls "the never-wake-up berries". Two and a half years after the shipwreck, Paddy dies following a drinking binge. The children survive on their resourcefulness and

252-593: A lecture on poison from Paddy Button, which is reminiscent of Alice's encounter with the "Drink Me" bottle. The "Poetry of Learning" chapter also draws parallels with Alice's conversation with the Caterpillar . Paddy's smoking of a pipe and the children teaching him to write his name in the sand echoes the Caterpillar smoking a hookah while questioning Alice's identity. The author also incorporates other references to wonder, curiosity, and strangeness throughout

294-489: A life of being alone and removed from society. The novel, as reviewed by The Japan Weekly Mail , has been described as a "moderately good tale", encompassing numerous startling incidents. However, they cautioned that the conclusion of the novel may leave readers feeling emotionally detached, as it was deemed unsatisfactory. Punch particularly praised the novel for Stacpoole's "powerful" writing and for being "fascinating," "delicately conceived," and "healthily nurtured on

336-455: A positive review and commended Stacpoole for his treatment of delicate themes and the character development of the two children. It also noted the book's engaging plot and the richness of the island's descriptions, though it did have reservations about the ending. The Sydney Morning Herald praised Stacpoole's handling of a challenging subject matter, as well as his keen eye, accurate psychology, and "quite adequate literary skill". The work

378-813: A reservoir near Belmont, Lancashire, England Ölüdeniz or Blue Lagoon, Turkey Harpur Hill Quarry , Derbyshire, England, known locally as the Blue Lagoon Other uses [ edit ] The Blue Lagoon, a restaurant at Disneyland Paris renamed Captain Jack's in 2017 Blue Lagoon (cocktail) , an alcoholic drink Blue Lagoon, Queensland , a former outdoor water park area at Dreamworld in Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia Blue Lagoon Water Park, Pembrokeshire , an indoor water park in Pembrokeshire, Wales Princess Selandia or Blue Lagoon,

420-442: A seasoned medical practitioner, had encountered instances of birth and death, and as a result, these occurrences no longer possessed any sense of awe or enigma for him. This led him to ponder the concept of two young children who are forced to grow up on an isolated island with no access to any form of guidance or knowledge. These children would be subject to the natural phenomena of birth, death, and storms, and would have to experience

462-468: A state of nature without guidance. He noted the book's similarity to a short story by Morgan Robertson and highlighted the careful insight into the psychology of the characters as they navigate existence unaided. However, Cooper critiqued the book's narrative mechanism, particularly in the final episode where the father encounters his child by sheer chance, finding it jarring and lacking in credibility. Despite its shortcomings in storytelling, The Blue Lagoon

SECTION 10

#1732772520469

504-460: A sunset or thunderstorm. He compared this to the current era, where advanced technology has taken away the mystery and enchantment of these natural occurrences. Modern-day humans have become so consumed with the scientific explanation of things that they have lost the ability to appreciate the beauty and awe-inspiring qualities of nature. By doing so, they have deprived themselves of the simple joys that once filled them with wonder. Stacpoole, being

546-492: Is an important characteristic of the genre, which relies on dialogue and emotional responses, rather than action. The story is sometimes told in the form of a flashback. Historically, coming-of-age films usually centred on young boys, although coming-of-age films focusing on girls have become more common in the early 21st century, such as The Poker House (2008), Winter's Bone (2010), Hick (2011), Girlhood (2014), Mustang (2015), Inside Out (2015), The Diary of

588-488: Is different from Wikidata All article disambiguation pages All disambiguation pages The Blue Lagoon (novel) The Blue Lagoon is a coming-of-age romance novel written by Henry De Vere Stacpoole , first published by T. Fisher Unwin in 1908. The Blue Lagoon explores themes of love, childhood innocence, and the conflict between civilisation and the natural world. The story centres on two cousins, Dick and Emmeline Lestrange, who are marooned with

630-479: Is full of similarities to Alice 's journey. Like Alice, Emmeline is around the same age, and their innocent curiosity leads them to explore their surroundings. Emmeline's tea party on the beach and her former pet's resemblance to the Cheshire Cat are examples of the author's allusions to Carroll's work. The similarities continue with Emmeline's innocent attempt to eat the "never-wake-up berries" and receiving

672-423: Is portrayed as resembling the courtship rituals observed in the animal kingdom. Dick becomes attentive toward Emmeline, listening to her stories and bringing her gifts. Over several months they have sex and eventually, Emmeline becomes pregnant. The couple does not understand the physical changes happening to Emmeline's body and does not know about childbirth. When the day comes for delivery, Emmeline disappears into

714-417: Is recognized for its daring exploration of this unique theme. The New York Times praised Stacpoole's novel for its examination of the dilemma surrounding the solitary development of two children on the island after surviving a shipwreck. The newspaper did issue a warning, however, suggesting that those with traditional and rigid beliefs might continue to hold out hope that a missionary would soon arrive on

756-420: Is so carried away by the machinery he devises that he seems inclined to pass over the poetry in a hurry." Frederic Taber Cooper of The Bookman offered a nuanced assessment of the book. While acknowledging that the novel deviated from conventional literary standards in terms of construction, Cooper commended it for its successful attempt to explore the complex and unusual theme of two individuals growing up in

798-549: The Times Literary Supplement commending the book's tale of discovering love and experiencing innocent mating, describing it as refreshing as the ozone that had strengthened the characters. The Saturday Review highlighted the novel's ability to captivate readers, its carefully constructed premise, the characters' growth from childhood innocence to self-sufficiency, and the enchanting love story. The reviewer acknowledged some grammatical issues but commended

840-634: The Bildungsroman arose in Germany, it has had extensive influence first in Europe and later throughout the world. Thomas Carlyle had translated Goethe's Wilhelm Meister novels into English, and after their publication in 1824/1825, many British authors wrote novels inspired by it. Many variations of the Bildungsroman exist, such as the Künstlerroman ("artist novel"), which focuses on

882-490: The German words Bildung , "education", alternatively "forming" and Roman , "novel") is further characterized by a number of formal, topical, and thematic features. It focuses on the psychological and moral growth of the protagonist from childhood to adulthood ( coming of age ), in which character change is important. The genre evolved from folk tales of young children exploring the world to find their fortune. Although

SECTION 20

#1732772520469

924-531: The author is also influenced by Lewis Carroll 's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland . The narrative structure of childhood leading to adolescent romance in Stacpoole's novel is likely influenced by Longus ’s Daphnis and Chloe and Bernardin de St. Pierre 's Paul et Virginie . The reference to Wonderland is made when the castaways approach Palm Tree Island, which is the beginning of an adventure that

966-453: The author's imaginative storytelling, and went so far as to assert that the label of "romance," frequently used in contemporary works, was genuinely fitting for this novel. The Athenaeum ' s review highlighted the poetic and imaginative qualities of the story, which revolves around two children stranded on a desert island with an elderly Irish sailor, Paddy Button. The review praised the story's charm and emotional depth, particularly in

1008-463: The bounty of their remote paradise. They live in a hut and spend their days fishing, swimming, diving for pearls, and exploring the island. As time progresses, Dick and Emmeline undergo the natural process of maturing into young adults and develop romantic feelings for one another. Unaware of the complexities of human sexuality , they struggle to comprehend and articulate their growing physical attraction. Eventually, they engage in an intimate act, which

1050-449: The captain replies, "No, sir. They are asleep". The ambiguous ending leaves it uncertain whether or not they can be revived. Early in 1907, lying awake and pondering, not for the first time in my life, on the extraordinary world we live in, the idea came to me of what it must have been like to the cave men who had no language and for whom a sunset had no name tacked on to it, a storm no name, Life no name, death no name and birth no name, and

1092-420: The couple's return to society with a child would have raised some complicated questions. Peter Keating noted that around 1905, the rise of the "sex novel" or "sex problem" novel became prominent, with The Blue Lagoon identified as a "sensationally erotic" example, alongside Elinor Glyn ’s Three Weeks (1907). Keating called it “the ultimate sex novel,” reflecting an idealisation of natural sexuality against

1134-407: The early chapters depicting the children's adventures with Paddy. It commended the portrayal of their growth, learning about love and life through their natural surroundings. Although the review noted the eventual rescue and return to civilization, it underscored that the most attractive aspects of the novel lie in the initial chapters and the endearing character of Paddy Button. The Academy gave

1176-507: The forest and returns with a child. They discover over time that the baby requires a name and they call him "Hannah" because they have only ever known an infant called by that name. Dick and Emmeline teach Hannah how to swim, fish, throw spears and play in the mud. They survive a violent tropical cyclone and other natural hazards of island life. Back in San Francisco , Arthur, Dick's father and Emmeline's uncle and guardian, believes

1218-434: The fruits of an observation which knows when not to observe," but warned that the novel "has the power of the rapier rather than that of the bludgeon, which... is the kind of force that epithet has come latterly to suggest when applied to fiction." The New York Sun praised the novel for being "told prettily enough" and "provoking to have a situation carefully prepared", but warned that "the author [Henry De Vere Stacpoole]

1260-413: The heart by their beauty. The theme of Dick and Emmeline growing up together and gradually awakening to passion is a very delicate one. No one but a writer of the finest sensibility could have dealt with the stirring of innocence to knowledge without creating a sense of awkwardness and embarrassment in all those who reverence the spirituality of youth. That extremely sickly romance, Paul and Virginia , had

1302-468: The highs and lows of life without any assistance. Stacpoole found this idea fascinating and was inspired to explore it further. The next day, he began to work on The Blue Lagoon . The author deliberately draws parallels between The Blue Lagoon and the Biblical story of Adam and Eve , highlighting the innocence and naivety of the two young protagonists, Emmeline and Dick. However, it is evident that

Blue Lagoon - Misplaced Pages Continue

1344-426: The idea came to me of two children, knowing nothing about any of these things, finding themselves alone on a desert island facing these nameless wonders. Henry De Vere Stacpoole, Men and Mice (1942) During a sleepless night, Stacpoole's mind wandered to the concept of a caveman 's life. He found himself in awe of the primitive man's ability to appreciate and find wonder in the most basic of things, such as

1386-459: The island carrying religious items. Nevertheless, it is specified that the island is devoid of any missionary inhabitants. The novel was reprinted over twenty times in the following twelve years. Louis J. McQuilland of The Bookman wrote in 1921: It is probable that The Blue Lagoon will always be the most favoured of Stacpoole's books because its appeal is universal. It is an idyll of childhood and youth amid tropical splendours which catch

1428-421: The novel's copyright expired on 1 January 2002. In its country of origin, the copyright expired on 1 January 2022. Coming-of-age story The plot points of coming-of-age stories are usually emotional changes within the character(s) in question. In literary criticism , coming-of-age novels and Bildungsroman are sometimes interchangeable, but the former is usually a wider genre. The Bildungsroman (from

1470-462: The novel, honouring Carroll's work. The children lose track of time, similar to the Mad Hatter 's tea party, and undergo physical changes, like Alice growing taller and Emmeline becoming plumper. The reference to the baby in "Pig and Pepper" is also made when Hannah sneezes at the sight of Dicky. Upon its initial publication, the book gained popularity. The critical acclaim was substantial, with

1512-945: The novel, starring Brooke Shields and Christopher Atkins Return to the Blue Lagoon , a 1991 sequel of the 1980 film Blue Lagoon: The Awakening , a 2012 Lifetime television movie Places [ edit ] Blue Lagoon , Queensland, Australia, a geographical feature on Lizard Island Blue Lagoon , a flooded slate quarry near Abereiddy, Wales Blue Lagoon, a cove in Portland, Jamaica Blue Lagoon (Ekerö) , an artificial lake in Sweden Blue Lagoon (geothermal spa) , Iceland Blue Lagoon Bay, near Comino , Malta Blue Lagoon Island , near Nassau, Bahamas Blue Lagoon Local Nature Reserve , Bletchley, Milton Keynes, England Blue Lagoon National Park , Zambia Blue Lagoon Reservoir or Ward's Reservoir,

1554-511: The reader's sense of time. Conventions of romance like the mysterious idol and the threat of the savages (complete with drums and secretly observed human sacrifice) lend a necessary minimum of fear and excitement to the story, but even less than in Daphnis and Chloe . Instead, the story fixes attention on the maturing of a couple, not of two separate characters. Seen as an idyllic romance, Blue Lagoon almost has to end at that point, if only because

1596-515: The self-growth of an artist. In film, coming-of-age is a genre of teen films. Coming-of-age films focus on the psychological and moral growth or transition of a protagonist from youth to adulthood. A variant in the 2020s is the "delayed-coming-of-age film, a kind of story that acknowledges the deferred nature of 21st-century adulthood", in which young adults may still be exploring short-term relationships, living situations, and jobs even into their late 20s and early 30s. Personal growth and change

1638-402: The shore. While in the boat with her son, Emmeline fails to notice that Hannah has tossed one of the oars into the sea. The tide comes in and sweeps the boat into the lagoon, leaving Emmeline and Hannah stranded. As Dick swims to them, he is pursued by a shark. Emmeline strikes the shark with the remaining oar, earning Dick time to climb into the boat safely. Although they are not far from shore,

1680-420: The trio cannot get back without the oars and they are unable to retrieve them from the water because of the shark. The boat is caught in the current and drifts out to sea; all the while Emmeline still grasps the arita branch. Sometime later, Arthur's ship comes across the lifeboat and finds the three unconscious but still breathing. The arita branch is now bare save for one berry. Arthur asks, "Are they dead?" and

1722-432: The two are still alive and is determined to find them, after recognizing a child's tea set belonging to Emmeline which was retrieved by a whaler on an island. Arthur finds a captain willing to take him to the island and they set out. Meanwhile, Dick, Emmeline, and Hannah row their lifeboat to the place where they had once lived with Paddy as children. Emmeline breaks a branch off the deadly arita plant as Dick cuts bananas on

Blue Lagoon - Misplaced Pages Continue

1764-719: Was acclaimed by the Review of Reviews for its uniqueness, described as a narrative that diverges from any other published story. Additionally, Stacpoole was praised for his authorship of an authentic, delightful, and uncomplicated romance, showcasing the author's boldness and creativity. The novel received acclaim from the South Australian Register , which described it as an exemplary maritime narrative suitable for both male and female juvenile readers. The Register also commended it for its abundance of educational insights and profound emotions that can only arise from

#468531