Although the popular children’s book, The Very Hungry Caterpillar, written by Eric Carle, seems to be a mere children’s novel about a caterpillar’s week, with an absurd amount of analysis and a healthy amount of wild conclusions, a universal theme overarching the short story can be established. Over the course of the rapid and shallow development of the caterpillar’s adventure throughout the week, Carle explores the inner demons that dwell in foolish humans and where they are capable of leading us. In the caterpillar’s situation, its hunger, without a doubt, symbolizes the burning desires that fill humans’ souls. The caterpillar is hungry as soon as it is born, which represents how our little devils are within us from the beginning. In order to satisfy its hunger, the caterpillar begins to eat everything in sight. Similarly, as soon as humans are born, we need to satisfy these inner demons, and crying satisfies their desire to bring chaotic clamor into the world. Continue reading →