Fall from grace and redemption

Just as in The Wizard of Oz, Peter Pan or even the story of Adam and Eve in the Bible, this is a story in which innocents—the Matsika children—yearn for knowledge of the world in their protected, serene world. Although they are not symbolically cast out of the Garden of Eden, they sneak away to go adventuring and discover evil as well as good. Thus the story derives from a literary archetype, only reinforced as the children use their knowledge plus a reliance on their father and a benevolent ancient spirit for their rescue and redemption. The children must endure one painful lesson twice in trying to extricate themselves from the She-Elephant.

Redemption comes about through their own determination and will to live free, given an assist by their powerful parents. Largely because of Tendai's tenacity, the three children never...