Garfield by Jim Davis for July 28, 1997
July 27, 1997
July 29, 1997
Transcript:
Garfield: I feel my primal instincts welling up from deep within my soul. I must return to my wild jungle roots! Call me a cab.
Truly a timeless strip from Jim Davis dating back almost 23 years. Garfield’s yearning for a more primal, simpler time is a feeling we can all empathize with, hearkening back to classics like Walden by Henry David Theroux. The modern hustle and bustle world we live in has many challenges which never existed in times of old. However, Davis here has a very level-headed take. While Garfield’s desire is certainly understandable, he cannot truly distance himself from the conveniences of technology. He wants to go back but cannot do so without modern means. This speaks to the way that technology has enriched our lives significantly despite its many challenges. While this idea seems great in theory, we don’t realize how much we rely on modern conveniences to allow us to experience more of what we love. The symbolism in the second panel of an unconstrained, rose-tinted world is quickly brought back to our constrained reality once the practicality sinks in. Jon’s expression across the panels serves as a lens into Davis’ feelings towards this sentiment. Ultimately, our primal desires are short-sighted, and we should look within to experience joy in the here and now.