How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #1
Despereaux stared up at her in wonder. The Pea, he decided, looked just like the picture of the fair maiden in the book in the library. The princess smiled at Despereaux again, and this time, Despereaux smiled back. And then, something incredible happened: The mouse fell in love. (5.2)
This scene is the beginning of Despereaux's lifelong loyalty to the princess. It's written as if he had no choice—it just hit him like a bolt from the blue. Once a knight loves a princess, she's his for life to protect and serve.
Quote #2
"I honor you!" shouted Despereaux.
"I honor you" was what the knight said to the fair maiden in the story that Despereaux read every day in the book in the library. Despereaux had muttered the phrase often to himself, but he had never before this evening had occasion to use it when speaking to someone else. (7.36-37)
Even though Despereaux is getting his ideas from the book in the library, he doesn't have to be convinced. His love for her is what drives his loyalty, not some story he's read. The book just gives him the words to express it.
Quote #3
"Furlough," Despereaux said. […] "Please let me go, Please. I'm your brother."
[…] "No," he said. No way."
"Please," said Despereaux.
"No," said Furlough. Rules are rules."
Reader, do you recall the word "perfidy"? As our story progresses, "perfidy" becomes an ever more important word, doesn't it? (13.15-19)
The storyteller jumps in with comments from time to time when she wants to emphasize a point in the story. Here, she's telling us that what's happening to Despereaux is very, very bad. Despereaux's appeal to his brother is one of the saddest scenes in the book, in our opinion. It shows how painful it can be to be betrayed by someone who should love you.