How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #4
"Farewell" is not the word that you would like to hear from your mother as you are being led to the dungeon by two oversize mice in black hoods.
Words that you would like to hear are "Take me instead. I will go to the dungeon in my son's place." There is a great deal of comfort in those words. (12.38-39)
Despereaux's mother makes a drama-queen scene as he's taken to the dungeon, but she doesn't do anything about it. So much for being able to count on his loved ones to support him no matter what. Mig's story of abandonment later in the book echoes this one.
Quote #5
Despereaux shuddered. His own brother was delivering him to the dungeon. His heart stopped beating and shrunk to a small, cold, disbelieving pebble. But then, just as quickly, it leapt alive again, beating with hope.
"Furlough," Despereaux said, and he took one of his brother's paws in his own. "Please, let me go. Please. I'm your brother." (13.14-15)
Despereaux's brother doesn't love him enough to save his life. Like father, like son, in this case. Why should Furlough take pity on Despereaux when his father didn't? Notice all the changes in emotion the author packs into these two paragraphs. Families make people very emotional. Shmoop found this passage particularly sad.
Quote #6
"I traded my girl, my own daughter, for this red tablecloth and for a hen and for a handful of cigarettes."
"Tsk," said Roscuro. He was not alarmed to hear of such a hideous thing. His parents, after all, had not much cared for him, and certainly, if there was any profit to it, they would have sold him. (18.20-21)
Roscuro obviously didn't come from a very loving home. He's not even shocked by the prisoner's story about how he sold his daughter for a paltry sum. When you come from an unhappy home, it's easy to assume that that's just how things work. Until you see a happy family, that is.