When I was young, I saw this beautiful movie about a woman who could do the most amazing things. She was a fictional character based loosely on the writings of one P.L. Travers. A positively delightful woman. If you don't believe me just watch the movie "Saving Mr. Banks". Anyways, the character she created from her childhood memories was quite peculiar in nature. The words that would come out of Mary Poppins mouth were altogether different from the actions that appeared on screen.
Book Mary and film Mary were as different as night and day. I think we have Walt Disney to thank for that. The amalgamation resulting from these two influences produced a musical masterpiece that has delighted the hearts of generations. This childhood classic had all the hallmarks of great entertainment for children of all ages. That being said, there is another more subtle element that we laugh off, but to the trained eye reveals that there's something about Mary that is also highly disturbing. No, it's not her leaping out of sidewalk art, or her all-purpose carpet bag that was bigger on the inside. While Disney went to great lengths to keep the movie upbeat and silly, he did very little to edit Mary's words that revealed her dark passenger was alive and well. No, I'm not talking about her talking parrot umbrella. All I can say is, that poor parrot. The way she treated her umbrella is the window into the darker side of Mary.
Before I go any further, I want to make one thing quite clear. I have always and still do love this story. I have the utmost respect for the actors who portrayed these characters, and all who shared in its production past and present, but I would not be fair if I ignored the glaring expressions of intrenched narcissism revealed in Mary's dialogue, as well as her moments of self-adulation when in the presence of her own reflection. The obvious mirror scene also leads me to believe that Walt deliberately planted this thought in the movie, in hopes that one day someone would come along in emperor's new clothes like fashion and reveal Mary for her blatant narcissism. Yes, Mary Poppins was practically narcissistic in every way.
Don't let your affection for this delightful musical, blind you to the grandiose narcissism promoted in this fictional child-care expert. If you have been around a NARC in close company for any period of time, there is one thing you can be absolutely sure of. The NARC will never openly admit to being wrong. If you are one of their loyal subjects your NARC has also made one thing quite clear. They won't apologize for anything. At best you will get an acknowledgement that you misunderstood them when they condescended upon your character. Now, please don't misunderstand. Mary followed a carefully written script. So, you won't catch her, excusing someone else's inadequacies, but it doesn't stop her from belittling others at every turn. Comparing a little boy to a codfish does not become more palatable to the ears simply because she added the Royal "we" to the sentence (respect to Queen Victoria).