Peter Conlon

4 / 11 / 2016
LSW Desperaux
The fact that the mice and the rats can talk is a fairly significant fantasy element. It
produces a certain sense of wonder and excitement for the reader. It appeals because it allows the
author to create an entire mouse or rat culture and the interactions between the humans and the
rodent parallels real life. It could be used as an extended metaphor simply by substituting rat
for a minority group for that feeling of outsiderness. There exists an element of the fairy tale in
this writing, yet it is unique in its substitution of rats and mice for real people. You can lose a tail
and apparently be fine. The humans also are aware that the mice and rats can talk so they are
aware that they are sentient and live in something approach symbiosis. The Rats can live in the
dungeon, just cause, and there is a giant council of mice that decree the rules for all mice
peoples. These is also an execution drum operated solely by striking it with your tail. These
elements are whimsical and appealing. Despereaux has a French mother and is described as such
so even if the kingdom is fake, it must have knowledge of a very real place in Europe.