I am of the opinion that Hobbes is actually an intelligent entity that masquerades as a stuffed toy in the presence of people who don’t actually believe he is real. Otherwise, there are some things which Calvin does that would be nearly impossible without another person. For example: tying himself up to a chair so tight that he could not get loose.http://alfiebowles.tripod.com/ch871201.jpg
Actually, I think it’s more of an exponential relationship than a linear one. It would be characterized by the equation y = a*b^(c*d)-a, where y is the value of the jackpot in dollars, d is the depth of snow in inches, and a, b, and c determine the exponential curve.To determine the values of a, b, and c, one would need to know how many inches it takes to cancel school for 2 different lengths of time, and decide how many dollars a day off of school is worth. If you include Calvin’s statement that 1in. is a 10 cent jackpot, you now have a system of 3 equations and 3 unknowns.
It was more likely his reaction when the teacher called him out on it that got him sent to the principal’s office, than it was his mocking of the pledge.
In the preface to the Complete Calvin and Hobbes Collection, he said that he based Hobbes’ behavior on his pet cat. Unfortunately, I’ve forgotten the cat’s name.
With Calvin and Hobbes, it is extremely difficult to tell if Hobbes is an actual intelligent entity, or just a stuffed animal. Others see him as a stuffed animal, but when he is alone with Calvin, things happen that would not be possible if he were only a stuffed animal. For example, when Calvin gets tied to the chair, and can’t get loose. It is possible to tie one’s self to a chair, but is nearly impossible to make it inescapable without someone else involved.
This is one of the reasons I think Hobbes is real, and is just extremely good at convincing the non-Calvin types that he is only a stuffed tiger.
I am of the opinion that Hobbes is actually an intelligent entity that masquerades as a stuffed toy in the presence of people who don’t actually believe he is real. Otherwise, there are some things which Calvin does that would be nearly impossible without another person. For example: tying himself up to a chair so tight that he could not get loose.http://alfiebowles.tripod.com/ch871201.jpg