Thursday, July 9, 2009 Heathcliff Analyzed

To protect himself against the local pediophiles, Iggy employs a flea-bitten cat and a dead fish.

Iggy is riding through the park on a partially assembled bicycle. Although the pedal isn't attached to anything, he appears to be making good progress. Accompanying Iggy is Heathcliff, holding a lifeless fish. The lifelessness of the fish can be attributed to it's being out of water. All three characters on the bike are wearing helmets.

Now, if Heathcliff were planning to eat the fish, it's understandable that he may try to protect it; but here, he has chosen to protect only its head. This seems to indicate that Heathcliff believes the fish to still be alive, and that he thinks he has some sort of relationship with it. Whether said relationship is platonic or otherwise is not known. However, holding the fish, Heathcliff appears genuinely happy.

On the park bench, two old men are watching Iggy pass by. Seeing the child, their glasses have steamed up, giving the impression that they have a rather unhealthy interest in the young boy. One of these pediophiles is saying to the other, "Safety first." This could be a warning that they should not go after this particular boy, either because he can outpace them on his strange bicycle, or because he is accompanied by a fish-wielding cat which has lobster claws instead of forepaws.