Beauty. Art. Music. Not things you usually associate with rodents, right? Seriously, when was the last time you saw a mouse at the movies or a concert? In a seat, that is.
There's a lot of darkness and ugliness in The Tale of Despereaux, but characters like Despereaux and Roscuro still find the time to seek out beauty in the world. Unlike their rodent families and pals, they both stop to stare in amazement at light, music, and all sorts of beautiful things. Mig, too, is speechless the first time that she sees the royal family; she carries the memory of that lovely image in her mind through all the hard times. The awe these characters feel is highly motivating; it sets them on their path to seek out a life beyond their own very limited world.
Questions About Awe and Amazement
- Why won't Despereaux eat the pages of the book that his sister leads him to?
- Why is Despereaux born with his eyes open?
- Why does the author use the imagery of light to convey amazement and awe?
- What are Roscuro's first impressions when he emerges from the dungeons and into the light of the castle?
Chew on This
Despereaux's amazement changes his life for the better and introduces him to the wider world.
Roscuro's amazement at light and beauty only makes his life worse because he can never really be part of it.