Character Analysis
Cooks are classic fairy tale characters. They're usually unsentimental, no-nonsense types who run their kitchen like drill sergeants. And they definitely do not like mice in their kitchens. At first, Cook seems like a pretty heartless and cold woman to Despereaux. After all, the woman is short-tempered with Mig and demands that the girl kill Despereaux when she sees him in her kitchen. But when Princess Pea goes missing, Despereaux sees a different side of Cook:
Cook brought the hem of her apron up to wipe at her tears. "It won't," she said. "It won't be all right ever again. They've taken our darling away. There ain't nothing left to live for without the princess."
Despereaux was amazed to have exactly what was in his heart spoken aloud by such a ferocious, mouse-hating woman as Cook. (39.14-15)
He realizes that people are a lot more complicated than he initially thought, and that he and Cook have something in common. They both have one shared goal: making sure that Princess Pea comes back safe and sound.