Humpty Dumpty Is Not An Egg And People Are Only Just Realizing

Since its inception, the nursery rhyme “Humpty Dumpty” has been synonymous with an anthropomorphic egg character. Have you ever stopped to wonder why, though? Considering that nothing indicates Humpty is an egg, why have we long associated the character with that food item? What was Humpty Dumpty, really?

Humpty Dumpty: Debunking the Egg Myth

Many of us grew up learning the nursery rhyme Humpty Dumpty when we were little kids. You probably remember it well. To jog your memory, the lyrics are:

Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall.
Humpty Dumpty had a great fall.
All the king’s horses and all the king’s men,
Couldn’t put Humpty together again.

Most of us probably remember the storybook pictures of this character, as well. He was always depicted as an egg. A closer examination of the lyrics, however, reveals that the rhyme never explicitly mentions Humpty Dumpty as an egg. This raises the question: Why has Humpty Dumpty been consistently portrayed as an egg throughout history?

The Origins of Humpty Dumpty

The origins of Humpty Dumpty can be traced back to the 17th century, during the English Civil War. In 1797, this popular nursery rhyme appeared in writing, although its origin and author remain unknown. At that time, the widespread use of nursery rhymes served as a form of political satire and propaganda. (1)

One theory suggests that the egg depiction of Humpty Dumpty originated as a form of Roundhead propaganda. The Roundheads were supporters of Parliament and fought against the Royalists during the English Civil War. The Royalists employed a massive cannon called “Humpty Dumpty” to defend Colchester, a town in eastern England. The cannon was situated on the wall of the St. Mary’s Church tower. (2)

During the siege of Colchester in 1648, the Parliamentarian forces managed to breach the town’s defenses, causing the fall of the Royalists. The popular belief is that “Humpty Dumpty” represents the cannon, which could not be repaired or put back on the wall following the attack. Thus, the nursery rhyme may have been used by the Roundheads to mock the defeated Royalists and their cannon.

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The King Richard Theory

However, while the egg depiction of Humpty Dumpty might be a product of Roundhead propaganda, other theories exist to explain this character’s association with an egg. One alternate theory proposes that the nursery rhyme is actually a metaphor for King Richard III of England and his defeat at the Battle of Bosworth Field in 1485.

This theory suggests that “Humpty Dumpty” represents King Richard III, who famously had a hunchback. The fall from the wall symbolizes Richard’s loss of the crown and his ultimate demise on the battlefield during the battle against Henry Tudor. In this interpretation, the imagery of a broken shell is used metaphorically to represent Richard’s shattered power and authority.

Other Theories

While there are plenty of political theories about the meaning of Humpty Dumpty, there are simpler theories. One of these is that the rhyme simply reminded children to be careful around delicate, breakable things. It reminded them that once you break something, it often can’t be put back together and likely will never be the same again.

But What About The Egg?

Despite the lack of definitive evidence linking Humpty Dumpty to either theory, the egg depiction has persisted over centuries. The first depiction of Humpty Dumpty as an egg was in Lewis Carol’s Alice in Wonderland sequel. In Through the Looking Glass, Humpty Dumpty is depicted as an egg. In the book, he sits on a wall and falls off after Alice calls him “silly.” The next time she sees him, he has cracked his shell open and asks her to put him back together again.

The Bottom Line

Picture books, illustrations, and popular culture have all perpetuated the notion of Humpty Dumpty as a round, egg-like character. The simplicity and visual appeal of the egg shape likely made it an enduring visual representation of this beloved nursery rhyme character.

In conclusion, the nursery rhyme “Humpty Dumpty” has been mistakenly associated with an egg, despite the absence of any solid evidence in the original lyrics. The egg depiction of Humpty Dumpty may have first emerged as a form of Roundhead propaganda during the English Civil War. Additionally, alternative interpretations propose that the character symbolizes King Richard III and his defeat at the Battle of Bosworth Field. Regardless of the origins of the egg depiction, Humpty Dumpty continues to captivate our imagination, reminding us of the power of folklore and the enduring nature of nursery rhymes.

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