How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #1
This story begins within the walls of a castle, with the birth of a mouse. A small mouse. The last mouse born to his parents and the only one of his litter to be born alive. (1.1)
Despereaux arrives as the last baby born to the Tilling family. His mother's favorite description of him is "disappointing." How's that for confidence-building? You'd think she'd be overjoyed about him as the sole survivor of the litter. But considering that a mother mouse can have 300 babies in her lifetime, Antoinette probably has a serious case of baby burnout by the time Despereaux shows up.
Quote #2
Despereaux's siblings tried to educate him in the ways of being a mouse. His brother Furlough took him on a tour of the castle to demonstrate the art of scurrying. (3.1)
Like good older brothers and sisters, Despereaux's siblings try to teach him how to act and navigate their world, but it's a lost cause. Despereaux simply isn't interested in all of these mouse activities. He's different from the get-go, but his family values conformity.
Quote #3
"He cannot, he simply cannot be my son," Lester said. He clutched his whiskers with his front paws and shook his head from side to side in despair.
"Of course he is your son," said Antoinette. "What do you mean he is not your son? This is a ridiculous statement. Why must you always make the ridiculous statements?" (6.1-2)
Despereaux is such an odd duck that even his parents don't understand how he comes from their family. It sets Lester and Antoinette against each other.