Marjorie M.
Magcanta CED-02-301A
Child and Adolescent Literature Critique Paper
The Disobedience Act of Peter: An Analysis of “The Tale of Peter Rabbit by Beatrix Potter”
The Tale of Peter Rabbit was written by Beatrix Potter, it is a creative children’s book where it follows
the mischievous adventure and the disobedience of the main character name Peter. This story marks the theme
of you reap what you sow. Given that the protagonist in this story was not able to follow the order of his mother
and choose to become reckless.
Introducing the beginning of the story where Peter rabbit was very naughty unlike from his three
siblings namely Flopsy, Mopsy and Cotton-tail who were immersed in the order of their mother Mrs. Rabbit that
obliged them not to go in Mr. McGregor’s garden as their Father had an unfortunate accident encounter that
ends his life in that Peter failed to listen to his mother and directly enter the garden of McGregor to have
vegetables as his snack during that time. After eating several times he ends up looking for some parsley to cure
his stomachache. This just signifies that eating too much can harm you and lead to more crucial events. It
happened that Mr. McGregor was in the garden and he spotted Peter then chase him. Peter loses his shoes and
jacket upon escaping from the gardener. He hides himself, and jumped into a can that was too filled of water but
Mr. McGregor finds him again and he instantly run away again that made him to be completely lost to his home.
Despite of escaping from the gardener, Peter rabbit was very frightened and felt the eagerness to find
his way home. He spotted a door in a wall and saw an old mouse that was too busy carrying peas and beans for
her family. He eventually asked her directions on how to find his way back, but the old mouse wasn’t able to
give him an answer due to her mouth was too full of food. This scenario made him feel hopeless and afraid that
he might trap in that garden. He began to wander in the garden and saw a white cat though he was not able to
ask help because his cousin little Benjamin warned him to stay away whenever he see a cat. Then he saw again
the gardener McGregor and start to chase him up again. He continued under the gate to run as fast as he can
until he went out in that garden and reach their house. When he arrived in their house, he was so exhausted and
completely lose his garments. His mother noticed this and put Peter rabbit to bed and made some camomile tea
for him. This is the punishment of Peter rabbit for not obeying her mother. On the other hand, his good little
siblings had received their bread, milk and blackberries for their dinner.
The misbehavior of Peter rabbit brought the readers to the different symbolism of the story. Wherein his
wrong actions eventually cause him to face a lot of consequences and punishments. This story presented the
symbolism of the bird or a friendly sparrows who gives guidance of Peter rabbit when he was so down and
hopeless in looking his way out in the garden before Mr. McGregor gets him. It was given in the story "Peter
gave himself up for lost, and shed big tears; but his sobs were overheard by some friendly sparrows, who flew to
him in great excitement, and implored him to exert himself." It symbolizes that the sparrow gave him peace that
he will be guided from any harm thay may come along hi was. The bird itself act as his guardian angel during
his lost. The birds was also there when he was about to escape under the gate.
Meanwhile, the mouse whom he was run into earlier was also symbolizes the emotions and misleading
actions of Petter rabbit where it stated that "she had such a large pea in her mouth that she could not answer". It
implies the idea of being trap in a place where he can never ask help for someone to get him out into the trouble
that he made himself suffer. The large pea in the mouth of the old mouse symbolize the recklessness of Peter
rabbit upon eating so much food in the garden that frustrates his stomach and brought him to spot the gardener.
If he had not went to McGregor's garden he wouldn't face all of the troubles that he was experienced.
Then in the last symbolism in the story which is the white cat serves as his thought that this may also
brought danger into his life when the moment if he will go near and spoke up to the cat to ask for the directions.
Besides, he didn"t go for it as he comes to remembered his cousin told him not to make himself be with those
cats. This made him to decide to go to underneath the bushes.
In conclusion, this story is trying to tell the readers that as a child you must have the capacity to know your
limits and value the rules and orders of your parents. As your parents knows what's the good thing for their
children. Parents are their to supervised their children in accordance to avoid them in any troubles that may
come in their life. Everyone must inspired on how the other three little rabbits attained their goal in listening
attentively to their mother despite of Peter rabbit naughtiness. Aside from that, a lesson was serve to Peter when
he realize that disobedience may put his life in a roller coaster ride. He may able to escape McGregor's garden,
but maybe next time if he disobey again he may suffer all the consequences and ends up his life in the hands of
the gardener.
References:
Essays, UK. (November 2018). Beatrix Potter The Tale Of Peter Rabbit English Literature Essay. Retrieved
from [Link]
[Link]?vref=1