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Despereaux Themes

Decent Essays

The Themes of Life In life, there are many impediments and afflictions that every person has to go through in different ways. There are things in life that cannot be taught, but learning the lessons can sometimes save the day. In the novel, “The Tale of Despereaux”, Kate DiCamillo uses imagery and metaphors to convey the theme of forgiveness and light versus dark to show how one has to forgive in order to move on and be happy. The usage of Imagery and Metaphors in this novel brings a vivid thought to the mind of the reader. DiCamillo uses light versus dark to symbolize the good and the bad. One of the main characters Roscuro is seen as a rat who is urgently trying to strive for the light. In the perspective of the reader, the urgency of Roscuro …show more content…

Darkness can be seen in different ways. The dungeon is the primary scene in which most of the darkness comes from. The dungeon signifies the darkness of the rats. As seen through the novel only the rats can find their way to the end of the dungeon (DiCamillo). Although Roscuro the Rat is a major part in the dungeon, he is not the only one that is down there with the other rats. Gregory the Jailor is down there also. Gregory is in the dungeon because he traded his daughter for some items that he wanted. This greedy trade that Gregory made can be seen as darkness. “Only Gregory and the rats can find their way through this maze. The rats because they know, because the way of it mirrors their own dark hearts…” (Chapter 15). This quote signifies that Despereaux will never be able to come out of the dungeon because he is not a rat. DiCamillo makes this a scene in the novel because she wanted to make “darkness” seem like a major contribution of the themes. Another main quote from the novel comes from Chapter 16 “Filthy rat,” said Gregory. “You black-souled thing. Gregory has had it with you rats.” Gregory threw Roscuro back into the dungeon where it is dark, without the presence of light. This shows that Gregory is fed up with being in the dungeon where there is no light whatsoever. One can predict that Gregory is longing to be free from the dungeon as well as Roscuro. The whole concept of darkness in the novel shows the bad …show more content…

DiCamillo provides the audience with imagery and also with the pictures she provides. Imagery can be seen through the various illustrations that are given in the novel. The illustrations show that Despereaux and Princess Pea are drawn with a glow or lightness around them symbolizing the good that they have in them. Roscuro and the other rats, however, are shaded with a dark glow around them showing how they are evil and filled with hatred. In the novel, the reader comes to find out that Despereaux’s own father has summoned him to the dungeon. Later, as the story progresses Despereaux becomes covered with flour and other ingredients and is spotted by his father, and at that point Despereaux forgives his father after seeing his watery eyes. The imagery in this section gives a vivid view on how one should always learn how to forgive no matter how wrong the situation may be. Another way that imagery is connected to the theme of forgiveness through imagery is when the Princess Pea gives Roscuro an evil look, and that evil look is what makes him not forgive her. The imagery provided is crucial to the story because by Roscuro not forgiving Princess Pea he is left with the darkness in his heart that is unrepairable. Although, Roscuro did not forgive the Pea, she in fact did forgive him at the end of the novel and at that point Roscuro is redeemed for the damage he has done. These two scenes from

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