How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #1
The only noise came from Lester. He was crying.
And thirteen mice, ashamed for Lester, looked away. Reader, can you imagine your own father not voting against your being sent to a dungeon full of rats? Can you imagine him not saying one word in your defense? (8.14-16)
Why are the other mice ashamed for Lester? After all, they've voted against him as well.
Quote #2
The man cleared his throat. "I'm here for stealing six cows, two Jerseys and four Guernseys. Cow theft, that's my crime." He opened his eyes and stared into the darkness. He laughed. He closed his eyes again. "But there's something else I done, many years ago, another crime, and they don't even know it." (18.18)
The one thing that haunts the prisoner the most isn't even technically a crime—at least not back in those days—but a horrible act nonetheless. He feels so guilty that he needs to confess to the jailer even though no one knows anything about it.
Quote #3
"And then I done the worst thing of all: I walked away from her and she was crying and calling out for me and I did not even look back. I did not. Oh, Lord, I kept walking." The prisoner cleared his throat. He sniffed. (18.24)
When the prisoner says this, it's the moment where the reader realizes he's Mig's father. He accepts responsibility for what he did. Once you found that out, did you anticipate that they'd be reunited at the end?
Quote #4
"Har," laughed Uncle. "Har. An ugly, dumb thing like you? You ain't even worth the enormous lot I paid for you. Don't I wish every night that I had back that good hen and that red tablecloth in place of you?" (27.11)
Instead of admitting that he's an awful person, Uncle puts the blame back on Mig for being ugly and dumb. He makes her feel worthless—even though she's doing most of the work around here. He's one character that doesn't feel guilt at all. He's like the nasty rats in that way.
Quote #5
The dark things in the princess's heart were these: a very small, very hot, burning coal of hatred for the rat who was responsible for her mother's death. And the other darkness was a tremendous sorrow, a deep sadness that her mother was dead and that the princess could, now, only talk to her in her dreams. (38.6)
Princess Pea looked at Roscuro with such hatred because she believes that he's responsible for her mother's death. Is that fair? Roscuro was just trying to see the world outside his dark dungeon, and he was startled. Still, the princess is heartbroken about losing her mother, so she blames the closest thing she sees. Later on, she's able to see things differently. She's conflicted about blaming Roscuro.
Quote #6
It means that when you are being forcibly taken to a dungeon, when you have a large knife pointed at your back, when you are trying to be brave, you are able, still, to think for a moment of the person who is holding that knife.
You are able to think: "Oh, poor Mig, she wants to be a princess so badly and she thinks that this is the way. Poor, poor Mig. What must it be like to want something that desperately?" (38.8-9)
Even though Mig is literally threatening Princess Pea with a knife, the princess doesn't blame the poor servant girl. The author's very clear that you need to think long and hard before you blame someone.
Quote #7
Despereaux made a small noise of despair. He had slept too long. The rat had already acted. The princess was gone. (39.8)
Although Despereaux has been doing his best to look out for the princess, he still blames himself when she goes missing. He feels like he should have been more vigilant in foiling Roscuro.
Quote #8
Despereaux looked at his father and saw an old mouse whose fur was shot through with gray. How could that be? Despereaux had been gone only a few days, but his father seemed to have aged many years in his absence. (40.12)
Despereaux's father is obviously not having an easy week. His physical appearance shows that he's had a hard time since sentencing his son to death. Guilt can take a huge toll on you, the author seems to be saying. Lester should be feeling guilty.
Quote #9
Despereaux looked at his father, at his gray-streaked fur and trembling whiskers and his front paws clasped together in front of his heart, and he felt suddenly as if his own heart would break in two. His father looked so small, so sad.
"Forgive me," said Lester again. (40.18-19)
Despereaux decides to forgive Lester…even though he really messed up in the fatherhood department. Would Despereaux have forgiven him if Lester hadn't expressed his remorse?
Quote #10
Mig, as you might have guessed, did not get to be a princess. But her father, to atone for what he had done, treated her like one for the rest of his days. (52.5)
When Mig's father is reunited with his daughter, he does everything that he can to make it up to her. Like Lester, his remorse gets him forgiveness from Mig. His guilt motivates him to be a better father this time around.