How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #1
For instance (if, reader, you will indulge me, and allow me to continue this meditation on consequences), because the queen died while eating soup, the heartbroken king outlawed soup; and because soup was outlawed, so were all the instruments involved in the making and eating of soup: spoons and bowls and kettles. These things were collected from all the people of the Kingdom of Dor, and they were piled in the dungeon. (23.3)
Even though outlawing soup is a ridiculous thing to do, the king does so because he's completely blinded by his grief. He just wants someone or something to pay for the queen's death, and so he picks two scapegoats to go after—rats and soup.
Quote #2
The king's men succeeded only in getting lost in the dungeon's tortuous mazes. Some of them, in fact, did not ever find their way out again and died there in the dark heart of the castle. And so, the killing of all rats was not successful. And in desperation, King Phillip declared that rats were illegal. He declared them outlaws. (23.6)
It's also rather silly for the king to outlaw rats because they already live like outlaws—they stick to the dungeons, after all. It's not like they were hanging out in the open before the queen's death. Revenge isn't always logical.
Quote #3
"Yes," muttered Roscuro. "Yes. That is exactly what I intend to do. I will make the princess suffer for how she looked at me." (23.12)
The storyteller gives us a reason for Roscuro's thirst for revenge but she doesn't excuse him for it.
Quote #4
The girl's name, reader, was Miggery Sow. And though she did not yet know it, she would be instrumental in helping the rat work his revenge. (23.16)
Mig doesn't want to seek revenge on the princess or to make her suffer. All she wants to do is be a princess herself. We can excuse her for her behavior, because it's really unintentional.
Quote #5
"By royal order of King Phillip," repeated the soldier, "I am sent here to tell you that soup has been outlawed in the Kingdom of Dor. You will, by order of the king, never again consume soup. Nor will you think of it or talk about it. And I, as one of the king's loyal servants, am here to take from you your spoons, your kettle, and your bowls." (28.6)
As the author never tires of telling us, actions have consequences. And one of the consequences of the war on soup is that the people suffer the most. What if they need to cook other things than soup in their pots, or use their bowls for Cheerios or chocolate pudding? Yum, pudding.
Quote #6
"Someday," she said, moved suddenly to tell this man her deepest wish, "I will be a princess." At this pronouncement, Chiaroscuro, who was still at Mig's side, did a small, deliberate jig of joy; in the light of the one candle, his dancing shadow was large and fearsome indeed. (32.14-15)
Roscuro knows that because Mig wants to be a princess more than anything in the world, she'll be easy to trick into carrying out his revenge plan. After all, he may be a clever rat, but he isn't exactly big enough to take down the princess or tie her up. If Mig hadn't shown up, Roscuro might have given up on his revenge plot and the princess would be safe. But then we wouldn't have a story.
Quote #7
Roscuro, hidden beneath Mig's skirts, rubbed his front paws together. "Warn her all you like, old man," he whispered. "My hour has arrived. The time is now and your rope must break. No nib-nib-nibbling this time, rather a serious chew that will break it in two. Yes, it is all coming clear. Revenge is at hand." (32.33)
More consequences: Gregory's got to die if Roscuro's going to get his revenge. Revenge can destroy everything around it, not just its intended target.
Quote #8
And while the mouse slept, Roscuro put his terrible plan into effect. Would you like to hear, reader, how it all unfolded? The story is not a pretty one. There is violence in it. And cruelty. (36.1)
This might be the only trigger warning ever to be written into a fairy tale.
Quote #9
Listen. This is how it happened. First, the rat finished, once and for all, the job he had started long ago: He chewed through Gregory's rope, all the way through it, so that the jailer became lost in the maze of the dungeon. Late at night, when the castle was dark, the serving girl Miggery Sow climbed the stairs to the princess's room. (36.2)
Even though this is a fairy tale, Shmoop thinks it's a pretty realistic depiction about how people can be totally obsessed with getting revenge against someone they think has hurt them.