The Tale of Despereaux

When Uncle used to hit Mig, he always aimed for the ears—but sometimes he missed and hit her nose. This happened enough that Mig now can’t smell well, so she totally misses that the dungeon smells like evil, despair, and hopelessness. She’s happy as she continues down the stairs, telling herself that she’d be glittery and full of light if she was a princess. She even sings a song about becoming the Princess Pea one day. Mig isn’t a great singer, but Chiaroscuro, in his red cape and spoon crown, hears exactly what he wants to hear in her song. He follows her down.

At the bottom of the stairs, Mig bellows into the dungeon that the jailer’s food is ready. The dungeon doesn’t respond; in fact, it’s “quiet in an ominous way.” Water drips, someone moans, and one can hear the rats moving through the blood and muck. The reader would certainly hear all this if they were standing where Mig is, as would the narrator. But Mig hears nothing, so she isn’t afraid. Rather, she lifts her candle higher and it illuminates the tower of kettles, spoons, and bowls. She says aloud that she never imagined there were so many spoons in the world. A booming voice in the dark says there’s more to the world than anyone can imagine—and next to Mig, Roscuro says Gregory is right.