Puss in Boots is the second story (after Blue Beard) in the book rewritten by Grace Rhys and published in 1895 by J. M. Dent & Co, London, in the Banbury Cross Series.
This fairy tale starts with the death of the miller. He had three sons. The first got a mill, the second a donkey, and the youngest a cat. While such division doesn't seem fair it was very usual for centuries. The oldest son got (almost) everything because in most cases the main goal of the family was to preserve the power.
With three owners, the mill would probably not work so well as with one clear master, and very likely it wouldn't be enough for the survival of all of the heirs. Not to mention the possibility of establishing their families. Younger heirs just had to move out and find their own way of survival.
The youngest son didn't know what to do. The cat seems useful just to be skinned and used for a pair of gloves.
The cat begged him to leave him alive. It was shocking to find out that the cat was able to speak. Even more so when he said he had a plan for big improvements to his master's life.
He just wanted to get a pair of boots. An initial investment for great returns!
He just wanted to get a pair of boots. An initial investment for great returns!
The Puss in Boots' first step is hunting. He wants to catch some partridges and rabbits so he can use them for his next move.
The Puss is smart. By pretending his death he manages to catch a rabbit. This will be his ticket to the court.
The Puss endows the king with a rabbit illegally caught in his own forest. The king doesn't think about the origin of the present. He is just happy to get a present.
Cat's plan goes as expected. He tells the king that the present comes from his master. He is the Marquis of Carabas. The king never heard of this noble gentleman before but he already had his sympathies.
Cat's plan goes as expected. He tells the king that the present comes from his master. He is the Marquis of Carabas. The king never heard of this noble gentleman before but he already had his sympathies.
The cat is clever and uses momentum. He catches a partridge for his next gift. He repeats the process until the king becomes curious enough.
He wants to meet the Marquis of Carabas in person.
But how to present a poor miller's boy as a rich nobleman?
He wants to meet the Marquis of Carabas in person.
But how to present a poor miller's boy as a rich nobleman?
The Puss has a plan for that as well. He knows when the king drives around in his carriage. He takes his daughter with him and the princess could help at the next step.
Miller's boy has to strip off his clothes and get into the river. When the king's carriage arrives, the Puss runs towards it and asks for help.
He tells a story about the robbers who attacked his master and took all his clothes.
The king is happy to help. He provides the outfit for the boy who looks much better in noble clothes than he looked in his old rags.
The king's daughter also likes what she sees.
He tells a story about the robbers who attacked his master and took all his clothes.
The king is happy to help. He provides the outfit for the boy who looks much better in noble clothes than he looked in his old rags.
The king's daughter also likes what she sees.
The cat already convinced the king that his master is wealthy and good-looking. Now he just has to prove he has a decent property.
A castle with a lot of woods and fields will do.
So he runs in front of the carriage and tells everybody to tell the king that everything around is the property of the Marquis of Carabas. People listen to the Puss' orders because he threatens them with severe punishment and they are used to obeying.
A castle with a lot of woods and fields will do.
So he runs in front of the carriage and tells everybody to tell the king that everything around is the property of the Marquis of Carabas. People listen to the Puss' orders because he threatens them with severe punishment and they are used to obeying.
Yes, all these fields belong to the Marquis of Carabas!
Yes, all these forests belong to the Marquis of Carabas!
King is pleased to hear that.
King is pleased to hear that.
But how about the real owner?
Everything that was supposed to be the property of the Marquis of Carabas was owned by an ogre.
A very special ogre. He was able to shapeshift.
Everything that was supposed to be the property of the Marquis of Carabas was owned by an ogre.
A very special ogre. He was able to shapeshift.
The Puss visits the ogre and flatters him. Is he really so skillful he could change his appearance into any animal?
The ogre gladly changes into a lion.
The cat almost dies of fear. At least he says so.
As we already know he never really bothered with the truth.
The cat almost dies of fear. At least he says so.
As we already know he never really bothered with the truth.
The ogre is having fun. Yes, he is so powerful
Then the cat asks him if is he able to change into something smaller. Let's say - a mouse?
The ogre turns into the mouse without a problem.
Then the cat asks him if is he able to change into something smaller. Let's say - a mouse?
The ogre turns into the mouse without a problem.
The Puss catches the mouse and eats it without a problem as well. The real owner of the castle with all the woods and fields around is out of the picture!
Everything is ready to present the imaginary Marquis of Carabas in the appropriate setting. He can wine and dine with the king and his daughter as a wealthy and noble man.
The marriage with the princess is just a formality now.
The marriage with the princess is just a formality now.
This is how a poor miller's boy became the Marquis of Carabas. With some mercy to his very special cat - the Puss in Boots.
The actions of Puss in Boots are - mildly saying - questionable. He saves his life and more importantly improves the social status of his master by stealing, lying, threatening, and killing. Storytellers and publishers are in doubt about this otherwise extremely popular fairy tale. Its messages are just not appropriate.
Many authors attempted to rewrite it but none of them succeeded. Here is one such exaple and see for yourself:
New Puss in Boots
Boring, right?
Many authors attempted to rewrite it but none of them succeeded. Here is one such exaple and see for yourself:
New Puss in Boots
Boring, right?