Rerun Van Pelt: Difference between revisions

For many years, Rerun was only seen perched in a seat on the back of his mother's bicycle, wryly commenting on his mother's riding skills and habits. Schulz, a careful observer of ordinary life, was inspired by the sight of young children strapped down for transport. "You look at these little kids hanging on to their elders..." he said, "and you wonder what goes through their minds." Rerun was "a kind of interpreter to those silent thoughts and impressions.<ref name=Woolery/> The absence of parents and adults in the comic strip means that Rerun must face his trials alone. One critic writes, "Mrs. Van Pelt exposes Rerun to the harsher truths of the outside world. He has to findfend for himself in fighting off dogs, handle burdens like her purchases, and deal with setbacks in life, such as potholes. Perhaps she wants to prepare Rerun for the cruelties and failures that Charlie Brown's gang frequently encounters. After all, his older brother, Linus, basically hides under a blanket."<ref name=Meuther/>