"Who am I?! WHO AM I?!"
Sophie explores this and many more questions in her garden hideout, her own little Eden. The man sending the letter begins evolving the questions into large philosophical lessons. Along with the letters she gets postcards to her c/o Hilde Knag from her father, Albert Knag who is stationed in Lebanon. Who Hilde is confuses Sophie, Albert seems to know but finds it irrelevant for the time being. Over time Alberto Knox, the 50 year old philosopher becomes Sophie's philosophical mentor.
Albert gives Sophie lessons ranging from Socrates to John Locke, from Stoicism to the rise of Christianity, from the Middle Ages to the time of Romanticism.
Through the lessons Alberto dresses up to match the time period and makes sure they are as in depth as humanly possible. He must keep up with the mysterious Albert Knag who seems to possess God-like powers. During all this Sophie struggles with turning into a woman.
Half way through the book and after an introduction to Berkeley the novel suddenly shifts drastically. It goes to the perspective of Hilde as she gets the manuscript from her father, Albert Knag, of the book her wrote specifically for her. The book is called Sophie's World. Hilde finds herself in the same curious shoes of Sophie, but is troubled that Sophie is only a character that her father seems to be tormenting.
Alberto battles Albert by teaching Sophie everything he knows. In the end, after the lessons finish and Sophie has her much anticipated 15th birthday party. Her and Alberto escape, becoming almost phantoms in Hilde's world. Albert was actually in Lebanon in real life with the UN Peacekeepers and was coming home just in time for Hilde's birthday. Sophie and Alberto watch as Albert explains in the end, beginning. In a dream, prior to the end of the book, Sophie dreams about watching Hilde sit on the dock outside her house. Her and Alberto take a boat off the dock and sail into the lake, in an attempt to prove the do exist.
The theme, I believe is blindness, and how children are conditioned to become blind to the world around them at a young age. They take what the world around them delivers as for granted and essentially become blind to its beauty. They are conditioned to stop asking questions, and this novel stresses that is when the philosopher should step in and teach the populous how to ask once again.
Albert gives Sophie lessons ranging from Socrates to John Locke, from Stoicism to the rise of Christianity, from the Middle Ages to the time of Romanticism.
Through the lessons Alberto dresses up to match the time period and makes sure they are as in depth as humanly possible. He must keep up with the mysterious Albert Knag who seems to possess God-like powers. During all this Sophie struggles with turning into a woman.
Half way through the book and after an introduction to Berkeley the novel suddenly shifts drastically. It goes to the perspective of Hilde as she gets the manuscript from her father, Albert Knag, of the book her wrote specifically for her. The book is called Sophie's World. Hilde finds herself in the same curious shoes of Sophie, but is troubled that Sophie is only a character that her father seems to be tormenting.
Alberto battles Albert by teaching Sophie everything he knows. In the end, after the lessons finish and Sophie has her much anticipated 15th birthday party. Her and Alberto escape, becoming almost phantoms in Hilde's world. Albert was actually in Lebanon in real life with the UN Peacekeepers and was coming home just in time for Hilde's birthday. Sophie and Alberto watch as Albert explains in the end, beginning. In a dream, prior to the end of the book, Sophie dreams about watching Hilde sit on the dock outside her house. Her and Alberto take a boat off the dock and sail into the lake, in an attempt to prove the do exist.
The theme, I believe is blindness, and how children are conditioned to become blind to the world around them at a young age. They take what the world around them delivers as for granted and essentially become blind to its beauty. They are conditioned to stop asking questions, and this novel stresses that is when the philosopher should step in and teach the populous how to ask once again.
The tone is curious, inquisitive. You find yourself learning, asking, along with Hilde and Sophie. The examples are the lessons and questions Albert and Alberto ask. The book taught me that I have forgotten to ask, and the questions posed at every chapter have seemed release me from my shackles!
"Hey! What happens when I jump?"
Okay maybe I will not have to ask questions all the time.
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