Did the cornfield in “It's a Good Life” physically exist, or was it a metaphor?
In the classic Twilight Zone episode "It's a Good Life", six-year-old Anthony Fremont (played by child star Billy Mumy) has the power to wish for anything. He often gets angry at other people, punishing them by sending them to "the cornfield". The other people in his town fear him, and do what they can to please him.
Was the cornfield an actual place that physically existed? Or was it a metaphor for oblivion?
the-twilight-zone
asked 10 hours ago
Dr Sheldon
940419
add a comment |
In the classic Twilight Zone episode "It's a Good Life", six-year-old Anthony Fremont (played by child star Billy Mumy) has the power to wish for anything. He often gets angry at other people, punishing them by sending them to "the cornfield". The other people in his town fear him, and do what they can to please him.
Was the cornfield an actual place that physically existed? Or was it a metaphor for oblivion?
the-twilight-zone
asked 10 hours ago
Dr Sheldon
940419
1
Depends on your point of view. Anthony probably thought of it as a cornfield because that's how him or someone else he heard of was punished. The 2000s revival had a sequel episode (with the return of Bill Mumy) where Anthony had a daughter, who it turned out, was stronger than him and could bring things back from the cornfield, with just as little explanation as to where that actually was.
– Radhil
10 hours ago
2
BTW, In the sequel, Anthony's Daughter was played by Billy Mumy's daughter Lilliana.
– VBartilucci
9 hours ago
add a comment |
In the classic Twilight Zone episode "It's a Good Life", six-year-old Anthony Fremont (played by child star Billy Mumy) has the power to wish for anything. He often gets angry at other people, punishing them by sending them to "the cornfield". The other people in his town fear him, and do what they can to please him.
Was the cornfield an actual place that physically existed? Or was it a metaphor for oblivion?
the-twilight-zone
asked 10 hours ago
Dr Sheldon
940419
In the classic Twilight Zone episode "It's a Good Life", six-year-old Anthony Fremont (played by child star Billy Mumy) has the power to wish for anything. He often gets angry at other people, punishing them by sending them to "the cornfield". The other people in his town fear him, and do what they can to please him.
Was the cornfield an actual place that physically existed? Or was it a metaphor for oblivion?
the-twilight-zone
the-twilight-zone
asked 10 hours ago
Dr Sheldon
940419
asked 10 hours ago
Dr Sheldon
940419
asked 10 hours ago
Dr Sheldon
940419
asked 10 hours ago
Dr Sheldon
940419
asked 10 hours ago
Dr Sheldon
940419
940419
1
Depends on your point of view. Anthony probably thought of it as a cornfield because that's how him or someone else he heard of was punished. The 2000s revival had a sequel episode (with the return of Bill Mumy) where Anthony had a daughter, who it turned out, was stronger than him and could bring things back from the cornfield, with just as little explanation as to where that actually was.
– Radhil
10 hours ago
2
BTW, In the sequel, Anthony's Daughter was played by Billy Mumy's daughter Lilliana.
– VBartilucci
9 hours ago
add a comment |
1
Depends on your point of view. Anthony probably thought of it as a cornfield because that's how him or someone else he heard of was punished. The 2000s revival had a sequel episode (with the return of Bill Mumy) where Anthony had a daughter, who it turned out, was stronger than him and could bring things back from the cornfield, with just as little explanation as to where that actually was.
– Radhil
10 hours ago
2
BTW, In the sequel, Anthony's Daughter was played by Billy Mumy's daughter Lilliana.
– VBartilucci
9 hours ago
1
1
Depends on your point of view. Anthony probably thought of it as a cornfield because that's how him or someone else he heard of was punished. The 2000s revival had a sequel episode (with the return of Bill Mumy) where Anthony had a daughter, who it turned out, was stronger than him and could bring things back from the cornfield, with just as little explanation as to where that actually was.
– Radhil
10 hours ago
Depends on your point of view. Anthony probably thought of it as a cornfield because that's how him or someone else he heard of was punished. The 2000s revival had a sequel episode (with the return of Bill Mumy) where Anthony had a daughter, who it turned out, was stronger than him and could bring things back from the cornfield, with just as little explanation as to where that actually was.
– Radhil
10 hours ago
2
2
BTW, In the sequel, Anthony's Daughter was played by Billy Mumy's daughter Lilliana.
– VBartilucci
9 hours ago
BTW, In the sequel, Anthony's Daughter was played by Billy Mumy's daughter Lilliana.
– VBartilucci
9 hours ago
add a comment |
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
The original short story describes the cornfield as a literal place where he sends the bodies (and this something that his family convinces him to do rather than leave the twisted remains of what was once human on the carpet), so I believe it was likely literal in the TV presentation as well.
answered 10 hours ago
FuzzyBoots
88.2k10271424
5
I keep forgetting a lot of the original show was adapted from other short stories.
– Radhil
10 hours ago
add a comment |
From the point of view of the inhabitants, they may not know whether the "cornfield" is real. It's just where they tell Anthony to send things when they need to be gotten rid of.
From the opening narration:
On a given morning not too long ago, the rest of the world disappeared and Peaksville was left all alone. Its inhabitants were never sure whether the world was destroyed and only Peaksville left untouched or whether the village had somehow been taken away.
So the people living there don't know anything about what exists beyond the small confines of their town. It's not clear specifically by what means Anthony keeps them from exploring—whether it's merely out of fear that they don't try to get away, or whether he has placed some kind of barrier between the village and whatever else remains of existence. However, they seem to have no way of knowing where, if anywhere, the stuff sent to the "cornfield" actually ends up.
answered 5 hours ago
Buzz
34.5k6118190
add a comment |
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2 Answers
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2 Answers
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The original short story describes the cornfield as a literal place where he sends the bodies (and this something that his family convinces him to do rather than leave the twisted remains of what was once human on the carpet), so I believe it was likely literal in the TV presentation as well.
answered 10 hours ago
FuzzyBoots
88.2k10271424
5
I keep forgetting a lot of the original show was adapted from other short stories.
– Radhil
10 hours ago
add a comment |
The original short story describes the cornfield as a literal place where he sends the bodies (and this something that his family convinces him to do rather than leave the twisted remains of what was once human on the carpet), so I believe it was likely literal in the TV presentation as well.
answered 10 hours ago
FuzzyBoots
88.2k10271424
5
I keep forgetting a lot of the original show was adapted from other short stories.
– Radhil
10 hours ago
add a comment |
The original short story describes the cornfield as a literal place where he sends the bodies (and this something that his family convinces him to do rather than leave the twisted remains of what was once human on the carpet), so I believe it was likely literal in the TV presentation as well.
answered 10 hours ago
FuzzyBoots
88.2k10271424
The original short story describes the cornfield as a literal place where he sends the bodies (and this something that his family convinces him to do rather than leave the twisted remains of what was once human on the carpet), so I believe it was likely literal in the TV presentation as well.
answered 10 hours ago
FuzzyBoots
88.2k10271424
answered 10 hours ago
FuzzyBoots
88.2k10271424
answered 10 hours ago
FuzzyBoots
88.2k10271424
answered 10 hours ago
FuzzyBoots
88.2k10271424
88.2k10271424
5
I keep forgetting a lot of the original show was adapted from other short stories.
– Radhil
10 hours ago
add a comment |
5
I keep forgetting a lot of the original show was adapted from other short stories.
– Radhil
10 hours ago
5
5
I keep forgetting a lot of the original show was adapted from other short stories.
– Radhil
10 hours ago
I keep forgetting a lot of the original show was adapted from other short stories.
– Radhil
10 hours ago
add a comment |
From the point of view of the inhabitants, they may not know whether the "cornfield" is real. It's just where they tell Anthony to send things when they need to be gotten rid of.
From the opening narration:
On a given morning not too long ago, the rest of the world disappeared and Peaksville was left all alone. Its inhabitants were never sure whether the world was destroyed and only Peaksville left untouched or whether the village had somehow been taken away.
So the people living there don't know anything about what exists beyond the small confines of their town. It's not clear specifically by what means Anthony keeps them from exploring—whether it's merely out of fear that they don't try to get away, or whether he has placed some kind of barrier between the village and whatever else remains of existence. However, they seem to have no way of knowing where, if anywhere, the stuff sent to the "cornfield" actually ends up.
answered 5 hours ago
Buzz
34.5k6118190
add a comment |
From the point of view of the inhabitants, they may not know whether the "cornfield" is real. It's just where they tell Anthony to send things when they need to be gotten rid of.
From the opening narration:
On a given morning not too long ago, the rest of the world disappeared and Peaksville was left all alone. Its inhabitants were never sure whether the world was destroyed and only Peaksville left untouched or whether the village had somehow been taken away.
So the people living there don't know anything about what exists beyond the small confines of their town. It's not clear specifically by what means Anthony keeps them from exploring—whether it's merely out of fear that they don't try to get away, or whether he has placed some kind of barrier between the village and whatever else remains of existence. However, they seem to have no way of knowing where, if anywhere, the stuff sent to the "cornfield" actually ends up.
answered 5 hours ago
Buzz
34.5k6118190
add a comment |
From the point of view of the inhabitants, they may not know whether the "cornfield" is real. It's just where they tell Anthony to send things when they need to be gotten rid of.
From the opening narration:
On a given morning not too long ago, the rest of the world disappeared and Peaksville was left all alone. Its inhabitants were never sure whether the world was destroyed and only Peaksville left untouched or whether the village had somehow been taken away.
So the people living there don't know anything about what exists beyond the small confines of their town. It's not clear specifically by what means Anthony keeps them from exploring—whether it's merely out of fear that they don't try to get away, or whether he has placed some kind of barrier between the village and whatever else remains of existence. However, they seem to have no way of knowing where, if anywhere, the stuff sent to the "cornfield" actually ends up.
answered 5 hours ago
Buzz
34.5k6118190
From the point of view of the inhabitants, they may not know whether the "cornfield" is real. It's just where they tell Anthony to send things when they need to be gotten rid of.
From the opening narration:
On a given morning not too long ago, the rest of the world disappeared and Peaksville was left all alone. Its inhabitants were never sure whether the world was destroyed and only Peaksville left untouched or whether the village had somehow been taken away.
So the people living there don't know anything about what exists beyond the small confines of their town. It's not clear specifically by what means Anthony keeps them from exploring—whether it's merely out of fear that they don't try to get away, or whether he has placed some kind of barrier between the village and whatever else remains of existence. However, they seem to have no way of knowing where, if anywhere, the stuff sent to the "cornfield" actually ends up.
answered 5 hours ago
Buzz
34.5k6118190
answered 5 hours ago
Buzz
34.5k6118190
answered 5 hours ago
Buzz
34.5k6118190
answered 5 hours ago
Buzz
34.5k6118190
34.5k6118190
add a comment |
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1
Depends on your point of view. Anthony probably thought of it as a cornfield because that's how him or someone else he heard of was punished. The 2000s revival had a sequel episode (with the return of Bill Mumy) where Anthony had a daughter, who it turned out, was stronger than him and could bring things back from the cornfield, with just as little explanation as to where that actually was.
– Radhil
10 hours ago
2
BTW, In the sequel, Anthony's Daughter was played by Billy Mumy's daughter Lilliana.
– VBartilucci
9 hours ago