From the Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler

by E. L. Konigsburg

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Discussion Topic

Claudia's attributes and Mrs. Frankweiler's admiration in From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler

Summary:

Claudia is characterized by her intelligence, determination, and curiosity. Mrs. Frankweiler admires Claudia for her resourcefulness and independence, which are evident in Claudia's meticulous planning and execution of the museum adventure. These attributes make Claudia a compelling and admirable character in the story.

Expert Answers

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Why does Claudia enjoy planning in From the Mixed-up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler?

One of Claudia's character traits is her ability to plan.  To a great extent, her need to plan is to compensate for a certain amount of emptiness that she perceives in her own life.  Her need to plan is a measure to demonstrate to her parents and others that she is capable of assuming greater responsibility and understanding the implications of it.  What planning gives Claudia is a voice and power, elements that she feels is missing from her parents when they perceive her.  At the same time, planning is the critical element that will help define her.  Claudia understands that if she does not plan properly and fail in her running away, her parents will continue to see her in what she perceives to be a devalued light.  It is for this reason that planning is so important to her.  It is also for this reason that she enjoys planning, as it serves to validate her own opinion of herself as being precociously mature.  Planning gives her this conception of self that is otherwise not apparent around her in the world.  It is for the reason of voice and power that she becomes an character who enjoys planning and sees the value in it.

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Why does Claudia enjoy planning in From the Mixed-up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler?

At the beginning of From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler, Claudia, the main character, is planning to run away. The author, E.L. Konigsburg, writes on the first page that:

She planned very carefully; she saved her allowance and chose her companion.

We find out later that one of the main reasons Claudia is running away at all is because it gives her the chance to plan an adventure. Not only is she a careful planner, but she very much enjoys planning, too. There's direct evidence of this on pages eight and nine. Let's look at the passage that provides this evidence:

Besides, once she made up her mind to go, she enjoyed the planning almost as much as she enjoyed spending money. Planning long and well was one of her special talents.

The second sentence in the passage is what tells us the reason why Claudia enjoys planning. It's one of her "special talents." In other words, she's really good at it. Isn't it true that in most cases, you enjoy doing the things you're especially good at?

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