How we cite our quotes: (Paragraph)
Quote #1
"Hats off to the King!" shouted the Captain of the King's Own Guards. (12)
The King's very presence on the streets of the market is signified by the proclamation of rules. Hear ye, hear ye, thou shalt do as I say!
Quote #2
All through the long hallway Bartholomew could hear the muttering of voices behind heavy doors. "He won't take off his hat?" "No he won't take off his hat" (46)
Oh, me! Oh, my! Someone's not following the rules. Scandalous! Guess the denizens of Didd are teetotalers and rule followers.
Quote #3
"Young man," [the King] said to Bartholomew Cubbins, and he pointed to a small door at the end of the room, "march down those steps to the dungeon and tell the executioner to chop off your head." (104)
We have to give Bartholomew props here. Not every boy would follow the rules to the point of marching to his own execution. We're not saying this is a good thing, but you have to admire the kid's mettle.
Quote #4
"All right," sighed the executioner, "but first you've got to take off your hat."
"Why?" asked Bartholomew.
"I don't know," said the executioner, "but it's one of the rules. I can't execute anyone with his hat on." (112-114)
Rules outdoing rules. In Didd, it seems even the King's rules can't overcome the King's rules, so long as the latter came before the former. Or is it the former before the latter? Man, law is complicated.
Quote #5
But the King was quicker than Wilfred. He grabbed him by the back of his fine collar. "This is to teach you," His Majesty said sternly, "that Grand Dukes never talk back to their King." And he turned the Grand Duke Wilfred over his knee and spanked him soundly, right on the seat of his royal silk pants. (138)
Even Grand Dukes need to follow the rules. Well, he doesn't need to follow the rules, but the penalty is not only severe but also embarrassing.