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.
Quote #4
Mig watched her father walk away, the red tablecloth billowing out behind him. He left his daughter. And reader, as you already know, he did not look back. Not even once. (24.15)
Perfidy, perfidy, perfidy. This is right up there with the book's saddest scenes. Poor Mig.
Quote #5
Nor did they hear the small mouselike noises of disbelief and outrage that issued from the napkin as Roscuro went on unfolding, step by step, his diabolical plan to bring the princess to darkness. (33.29)
Instead of basking in the overwhelming relief of being saved from the dungeon (and from death by rat), Despereaux immediately starts to worry about the princess. He's called to action to save her.
Quote #6
The pain his hindquarters was intense and he wept because of it. But he also cried because he was happy. He was out of the dungeon; he had been recalled to life. His rescue had happened just in time for him to save Princess Pea from the terrible fate that the rat had planned for her. (35.2)
Despereaux has had a rough few days, but he's ready to tackle his next great task—saving Princess Pea. As her loyal knight, he looks past his own pain to plan her rescue.
Quote #7
The Pea looked at Mig. Mig smiled. The knife glinted in the light of the candle. "Mig?" she said, her voice shaking the tiniest bit.
"I really do not think," said Roscuro, "that Mig would need much persuasion to use that knife, Princess. She is a dangerous individual, easily led."
"But we are friends," said the Pea, "aren't we, Mig?" (37.22-24)
Princess Pea appeals to Mig's friendship and loyalty to her, but she's wrong. Mig's going along with Roscuro's plan because he's promised that she'll soon be a princess like she always wanted. Bottom line? Loyalty and selfishness can't really co-exist. Will perfidy triumph?
Quote #8
And so, the small mouse who had been dipped in oil, covered in flour, and relieved of his tail slipped out of the pantry and past the weeping ladies.
He went to find the king. (39.20-21)
Things go from bad to worse for Despereaux, but instead of giving up, he goes to the king in order to fight for the princess. He knows this is risky; the king isn't a rodent fan. But again, the mouse doesn't have a choice. He's pledged to protect Pea.
Quote #9
But you must, when you are calculating the odds of the mouse's success, factor in his love for the princess. Love, as we have already discussed, is a powerful, wonderful, ridiculous thing, capable of moving mountains. And spools of thread. (43.7)
Despereaux may not have size or strength on his side, but his kind of devotion makes everything possible.
Quote #10
"Stop it!" shouted Roscuro. "Chain her up. Chain her up."
"Gor," said Mig. "I ain't going to do it. You can't make me do it. I got the knife, don't I?" She took the knife and held it up. (49.37-38)
At the very last, crucial minute, Mig changes sides and decides to disavow her loyalty towards Roscuro. She realizes that Princess Pea is the better person, and the one that she can actually trust to help her and treat her with kindness. Perfidy doesn't win, after all.