The story of Beatrix Potter and Peter the Rabbit (Part:1)

[Read more: Part-2]

After breakfast, the mother rabbit called her four sons. Flopsy, Mopsy, Cottontail and Peter gather in front of Mom. Mom was then ready to go out.

Kids, Mom looked at the rabbit kids. I’m going out on a mission. You can go play. But wherever you go, don’t forget to enter Mr. McGregor’s vegetable garden. The last time your late father went to Mr. McGregor’s garden, the mother rabbit sighed, then Mr. McGregor’s wife put him on the food list.

The mother rabbit went out, warning the boys. Flopsy, Mopsy, and Cottontail obeyed their mother and kept a hundred yards away from Mr. McGregor’s garden. But the naughty Peter just walked into that forbidden field. With joy in his mind, Mr. McGregor began to fill his stomach with hard-boiled vegetables. While Peter was floating in the ocean of happiness, carrying various vegetables in his stomach, McGregor himself appeared before him like a sculpted horror.

The above description is part of the children’s story Peter Rabbit. Beatrix Potter, a Victorian-era writer and illustrator, is the brainchild of this story, which is still popular and read to children worldwide.

Beatrix Potter

Helen Beatrix Potter was born on July 26, 18, in Kensington, London. Although his father, Rupert William Potter, was a lawyer, he did not practice law. He would spend most of the day at the club with his friends. Mother Helen Potter is the daughter of a wealthy cotton merchant. Her main job was to take care of the guests, whose crowds were always at Potter’s house. Their main source of income was inherited property.

When Beatrix was six, her brother Walter Bartram was born. The brother-sister attitude was quiet. They were both interested in drawing. In particular, they became quite adept at drawing animals. Beatrix’s parents encouraged their daughter’s drawing talent. As they were busy with social work, they handed over the responsibility of children to the governess. At various times, some governors took care of Beatrix. Beatrix continues to learn from their proximity. He had a special attraction to his latest governess, Annie Moore, and their relationship lasted a lifetime. When Beatrix was twelve, Rupert and Helen hired a Cameron teacher to teach painting. He was with Beatrix for five years.  

Gradually Beatrix’s drawing hand became more open. Beatrix and Bartram began feeding a large number of animals at home out of love for the animal that he felt comfortable drawing. They lived in the Beatrix study room. Pets included rats, rabbits, frogs, tortoises, lizards, bats, and even snakes. Her first pet rabbit was named Benjamin Bouncer, later captured in Beatrix’s story as Benjamin Bunny. Beatrix created Benjamin Bani as Peter’s cousin. His most popular character, Peter Rabbitte, is also inspired by another of his pet rabbits, Peter Piper. Peter Piper was one of Beatrix’s favorites, and Beatrix and Bartram often took him out for summer vacations with his parents.   

When Bartram was a little older, he was sent to a boarding school. Beatrix but stayed at home. When he reached old age, his parents gave him the responsibility of looking after the house. Adolescent Beatrix has been in the habit of writing diaries for 15 years, which has persisted for many years. But all the writing there was in its own sign language.

Summer vacation

Every summer, Beatrix’s parents would go for a walk with their children. From 1871-81 their destination was Perthshire in Scotland. For three months, they lived in Scotland. Beatrix waited all year for this time. With his feet in Perthshire, he would get busy getting lost in the surrounding nature. Bartram was often his companion. Beatrix spent a lot of time observing deep aspects of nature.

When Beatrix was sixteen, her family opted for Wray Castle in Lake Windermere instead of Scotland for a summer vacation. This area of ​​the Lake District of England had a profound effect on Beatrix’s mind, so much so that he later chose it as his home.

The Beatrix first arrived at Rye Castle in 1882. At that time, they met Ransley, an influential local man. The tide of industry in England then. Small and big industries are flourishing all around. Ransley was concerned about its harmful effects on the environment. He was especially aware of the hills and green areas of the Lake District. He also discussed these matters with Beatrix. In this context, Beatrix also started thinking about protecting the environment.

In 1895, Ransley founded an organization called the National Trust. Its main purpose was to protect the environment of the Lake District and its environs. Beatrix was also by his side in this matter.

Trying to be a scientist.

Beatrix also worked with animals to draw pictures of flowers seen in nature at various times. Upon graduation, Ms. Cameron received a certificate from the Science and Arts Department of the Committee on Education on Drawing.

Beatrix wanted to use her drawing skills in science. That is why he concentrated on drawing pictures of various objects found in nature. There was a course on the subject at the Q Royal Botanical Garden in London. Beatrix’s uncle tried to get his niece admitted, but the woman was called Royal Botanical Garden Nak Sintkal.

This time Beatrix was spending time at the British Natural History Museum near her home in Kensington. Here he began to paint fossils and at the same time began to study fungi. He was encouraged by a Scottish expert named Charles Mackintosh. Inspired by this, Beatrix acquired the skill of drawing the perfect picture of a fungus seen under a microscope. 

In 1896, Beatrix developed a theory about the reproduction of the fungus. His essay on the subject was rejected by William Thistleton-Dyer, the Royal Botanical Gardens director. There was an extreme objection to accepting girls as scientists in those days. As a result, Thistleton-Dyer did not feel the need to read Beatrix’s writings.

An article on Beatrix’s mushrooms was finally read in 1897 at the Linnean Society, a well-known scientific association in London. Here too, he is neglected. He did not even have access to the meeting where his writing would be read. A fungus expert named George Massey commented on his writing.