Henry And Beezus

In Cleary’s opening chapters, she establishes the setting of her book: Klickitat Street, a typical suburban street in the 1950s US. Cleary paints a picture of American post-war suburbia as she describes her young characters playing outside and running errands for their parents, introducing The Dynamics of Friendship and Community. 

Cleary also introduces her main character, Henry Huggins. Henry is a clever and energetic boy who is bored by his quiet neighborhood and calm family life. He says, “I sure wish something would happen around here sometime” (6). The author humorously describes how Henry and his friend Robert rely on the neighbors’ bickering for some entertainment: “Mr. Grumbie interrupted. ‘Etta, we won’t argue about it anymore. I invited my friends to a barbecue and we’re going to have a barbecue.’ Henry and Robert were disappointed. They hoped the Grumbies would argue about it a lot more” (9).

The second protagonist, Beezus Quimby, is Henry’s friend and appears as a confident, resourceful girl. While Henry is more concerned about his own pursuits, Beezus often has to look after her younger sister, Ramona, and is a doting big sister. Beezus tries to think strategically to get the most out of her interactions with Henry. The two kids, who can both be headstrong and distrusting of each other, often end up negotiating even the smallest of favors, adding humor to the story: “‘Say, Beezus,’ said Henry casually, ‘could I borrow your red wagon for a little while?’ ‘What for?’ asked Beezus, looking much too interested. ‘Oh, just an errand,’ said Henry. ‘Can I go?’ asked Beezus. ‘No.’ Henry hid his impatience. ‘It’s just some work I’ve got to do.’ ‘Then you can’t borrow it,’ said Beezus” (22). With their realistic goals and typical squabbles, Cleary presents the two kids and their neighborhood friends as ordinary elementary-aged children, reflecting the author’s interest in focusing on the day-to-day minutiae of small-town life. 

The locals of Klickitat Street, such as the Huggins and Quimby families, are middle-class families with children. Henry’s longing for a bike speaks to his family’s modest, middle-class standing. His mother tells him that she would like to get him one, “[b]ut with prices and taxes going up all the time, [she’s] afraid [they] can’t get [him] one this year” (6). Henry believes that his life would be much more exciting if he had a bicycle. By describing Henry’s plan to buy himself a bike, Cleary portrays him as a particularly determined and resourceful boy. While his mother suggests that perhaps next year they will buy him a bicycle, Henry does not want to idly wait. Instead, he puts his own plan into action. 

Cleary’s portrayal of Henry’s bike-fund schemes introduces the theme of The Importance of Resourcefulness and Independence, as Henry relies on his own strategies to raise money. When Henry discovers the boxes of gum, he decides to be resourceful with his lucky find and quickly makes a plan to profit off them: “He would take some to school and see what the other boys and girls offered him […] he would get rid of it in no time and have the money for his bike fund. He’d show old Scooter yet!” (26). By emphasizing how Henry takes the initiative and reaffirms his goal to himself, Cleary portrays him as hard-working and focused.

Henry must also embrace The Power of Creative Problem-Solving whenever his plans encounter unexpected difficulties. When his gum sales start to drop off, Henry tries to turn things around by giving out free samples, hoping that the other children will once more become interested. Although the scheme fails, Henry’s entrepreneurial spirit shines through, suggesting that he is able to adapt his original schemes whenever the necessity arises instead of immediately giving up. 

Henry’s determined nature is softened by his character’s friendliness. For instance, while Henry wants to sell the gum to raise funds for his bike fund, he still shares some with Beezus and her sister, Ramona: “‘Here’s a box of gum for letting me use the wagon.’ ‘A whole box?’ exclaimed Beezus gratefully. ‘Gee, thanks, Henry. I never expected this much’” (26). Henry’s frequent misadventures also add charm to his character, as he finds it hard to carry out his own endeavors while keeping in line with his parents’ and teachers’ expectations. For example, when Henry’s dog, Ribsy, steals the neighbor’s barbeque dinner, it is Henry who has to chase him down the street and pay for the seized meat out of his own allowance.