Ep 46. What is Love? (1)
- April 23, 1973
Mr. Rogers explores the topic of love in this episode of Mister Rogers' Neighborhood. As he enters his television house, he sings a song about love and how it can be shown in many different ways. He then takes off his jacket and puts on a brightly colored sweater before settling into his armchair to talk about love.
Mr. Rogers explains that love is a feeling of caring for someone or something very much. He asks viewers to think about the things they love, such as parents, siblings, pets, or toys. He then introduces a puppet named Henrietta, who loves to play with her favorite toy, a doll named Shaggy Dog. As they play together, Mr. Rogers points out that Henrietta is showing her love for Shaggy Dog by taking care of him and making sure he is happy.
Next, Mr. Rogers visits a music store where he meets a man named Mr. McFeely. Mr. McFeely explains that he loves music and he loves his job delivering mail. He then shows Mr. Rogers a record called Love Songs, which he gives to him as a gift. As Mr. McFeely leaves, Mr. Rogers reads the back of the record and talks about how love songs express feelings of love in a beautiful way.
Back in his television house, Mr. Rogers sings a song about love songs and their ability to make people feel happy and loved. He then talks about how love can sometimes be difficult, especially when people experience disagreements or arguments. He reminds viewers that it is important to still show love and care for each other, even during difficult times.
To demonstrate this, Mr. Rogers visits a school where he watches children during recess. He notices that some children are arguing and not playing nicely with each other. He talks to them about how they can show love by being kind to one another and helping each other out. He then watches as the children apologize to each other and start playing happily together.
As the episode wraps up, Mr. Rogers talks about how love is something that can grow and expand over time. He reminds viewers that showing love is a choice and encourages them to find their own ways to show love and care for the people and things that are important to them. He then sings a final song about how love can make the world a better place.
Overall, this episode of Mister Rogers' Neighborhood provides a gentle and thoughtful exploration of the concept of love. Through engaging songs, puppet play, and interactions with real-life people, Mr. Rogers encourages viewers to consider how they can show love and care in their own lives. His message is one of kindness, compassion, and the power of love to make a positive impact on the world.