while I'm thinking about analysing the moomin stories today, the subject of teety-woo's identity in "the spring tune" is one of my favourite themes in the novels.

it's definitely not a stretch to suggest the outline of that story was inspired by tove jansson's struggles as a creative and a public figure. teety-woo serves as a stand-in for the countless fans who looked to her for inspiration, maybe validation, and her reasonable discomfort with being lauded as some sort of all-knowing idol because of it.

snufkin, as her sort of mouthpiece, sets a boundary that he's just another person in the world who happens to create art and shouldn't be looked to as a role-model. he's flawed, irritable, and a little-self-centred (arguably, through this interaction, sympathetically so). he doesn't have all the answers nor the stamina to help people who are practical strangers, and reminds teety-woo that "you'll never be free if you admire someone too much". a sentiment snukfin understands, not just because of his guilt over moomintroll's admiration of him as well, but also his Own admiration of moomintroll. (earlier, when trying to craft his tune, he imagines going back to moominvalley and playing it for him, and how he'd say that "it's a good one"). it's a message that's especially resonant in a world with an increasing problem with parasocial interaction.

but although that's an important lesson to take from the novel, snufkin Does in fact leave an impact on teety-woo. he's the one to give teety-woo his name, which finally gives him a solid identity - and once teety-woo understands his identity, he almost immediately becomes independent and stops needing snufkin's attention and approval. the message I get from this story is that, while we shouldn't treat other people - regardless of fame - as infallible figures to project ourselves and rely on to solve our problems, it's human nature to "scaffold" from others you admire.

snufkin's role in teety-woo's life was a positive one, but teety-woo needed to learn how to be his own person separate from the idealised version of him. it's impossible to exist without being an influence or source of inspiration to someone. it may not always be easy or what we want but, that's how it is.