Headscratchers / A Boy Named Charlie Brown

• Why did Charlie Brown have to lose the spelling bee? Sure, the message that failure is a part of life and is unavoidable is an important lesson, but it doesn't really work for me because this is Charlie Brown we're talking about, who never wins. Why couldn't Schulz let him have this? After he loses, no-one even says "good job" or "you tried" even though he got 2nd place! Why couldn't he just win this one time?
  • Because it's Charlie Brown. Schultz pondered why he made Charlie the eternal loser, til one day his son came in after losing a baseball game and said, "I feel just like Charlie Brown." Schultz instantly realized the who and why of Charlie. He was someone to identify with when you're feeling depressed and out of it, and it helps you feel better because no matter what happens, Charlie always comes back, and retains a positive outlook.
  • Charlie Brown won the state spelling bee and he got 2nd place in the national spelling bee. I'd say that's pretty impressive for Charlie Brown, considering he beats a TON of other students at spelling. So he didn't win the national spelling bee like he and everyone else had hoped, but he did get second place. And yet after he loses, he is extremely depressed and everyone else is upset at his failure. Then again, it must have been embarrassing for him to misspell "beagle" when he happens to own one.
• When Lucy, Frieda, and Violet are singing Failure Face why is Linus- the one who is supposed to be his best friend- just STANDING THERE?! His best friend is getting tormented and he's not doing anything about it! He doesn't tell them to stop, or run to get a teacher! Some best friend!