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3.

Original Version
The Master Cat (early French: Le Matre Chat), mostly known as Puss in Boots (Le Chat
Bott) because of the main characters name, originated in France in 1697 and was written by
Charles Perrault in one of the first fairy tale books Histoires ou contes du temps pass. This
means that The Master Cat was actually one of the very first written fairy tales due to its
publication in the later 1600. The original French title was "Histoires ou contes du temps
pass, avec des moralits" - "Les Contes de ma mre l'Oye" ("Stories or Fairy Tales from
Past Times with Morals"- "Mother Goose Tales").
The original version has known since its first release, hundreds of subversions, movies,
cartoons and even games. "Puss in Boots" has inspired composers, choreographers, and other
artists over the years: for example, Puss appears in Tchaikovsky's ballet The Sleeping Beauty.
One of the most famous fairy tales in history, it has also been analysed in different situations,
whether the morals of the story were in question, the main character, the plot, or even the
social background. Unlike other classical fairy tales, and even thought it has been massively
used for subversions, The Master Cat has managed to maintain its original story as a classical
fairy tale. More explicitly, the original story has not been changed as in other cases For
example, in the original folklore and spoken story of Red Riding Hood, the little girl does not
get to her grandmothers house, the wolf eats her before she can even get there; only later, due
to its gruesomeness, Perrault publishes it with the changed ending Red meets the wolf
disguised as her grandmother, who he had eaten, but the hunter saves them both by shooting
the wolf therefore saving the grandmother from the wolfs stomach and Red from an
imminent death. Even though Puss in Boots changed its original title and entirely different
versions have been written, it remains to this day one of the most popular international fairy
tales of all time.
The Master Cat - a popular fairy tale that still manages to fascinate both adults and children
alike. Puss appears in Shrek 2 in 2004 as a mercenary who befriends an ogre, the main
character (DreamWorks Animation, voice of Antonio Banderas). Later, he stars in a number of
short animated movies, whether he is accompanied by Shrek or not: Shrek the Halls (a
Christmas special), Scared Shrekless (a Halloween special) and Puss in Boots: The Three
Diablos. One of its most promoted and newest versions is Puss in Boots (2011), the animated
movie by DreamWorks Animation, where Puss, the main character is searching for the Golden
Goose to redeem himself in the eyes of his adoptive mother. Even though the storyline is a

combination of many other fairy tales such as Jack and the Beanstalk and the Dragon from
Sleeping Beauty (here, a giant goose) we must see that due to his popularity, Puss is the main
character, proof of his importance not only as an animated cartoon, but as a fairy tale icon as
well.

3.1 Perraults influences


Charles Perrault was a retired civil servant; he was situated in the upper class society and was
a member of the Acadmie franaise [ L'Acadmie franaise also called the French Academy
is the pre-eminent French learned body on matters pertaining to the French language. The
Acadmie was officially established in 1635 by Cardinal Richelieu, the chief minister to King
Louis XIII. Suppressed in 1793 during the French Revolution, it was restored in 1803 by
Napoleon Bonaparte. It is the oldest of the five acadmies of the Institut de France].
Perraults education and relations allowed him to become not a simple writer, but one that
would influence and teach children in his society how they must behave. Jack Zipes (1983:
13-40) ideas of the birth and evolution of fairy-tales are broadly discussed in his book Fairy
Tales and the Art of Subversion. Some of his research actually includes Charles Perrault as
being one of the forefathers of fairy tales and one of the authors with the most subversion of
his stories.
After its invention, the genre became extremely famous. Everybody who was an important
writer wrote, or at least tried to write, a fairy-tale. When their own cultural inspiration faded
away, they went across their borders and started introducing Italian or Arabic motifs. They
even made fairy- tale-inspired plays. It can be assumed that the French invention of fairy tales
benefited later all of Europe expanding in the entire world. Obviously there were some who
parodied the genre, considering it nothing more than a story, with no actual learning or
something made only for the lower class people. Ironically, one of the most famous fairy tale
parodies is the Shrek series that also include Puss.
Zipes (1983:13) considers that fairy tales appeared at a moment of great shift in social
manners and norms. The society wanted to prepare children for their future, the standards
they believed at the time to be optimal, and therefore they started educating them for their
purpose in life. The stories were supposed to give a role model for children or make them
understand that they had to act in a certain way if they wanted to fulfil their purpose or

desires.

Aside from the nursery rhymes and folk oral tales, fairy tales distinguished

themselves by the written word and refinement which appealed more to a higher society, thus
making them more reliable as a source of learning.
Actually, fairy tales were primarily written for adults, as Jack Zypes (1983:14) mentions, to
amuse them and give examples of exemplary citizens, maybe even implement some ideas,
ideologies, but they also had a great success over children, so they became a way of learning
and setting standards for them.
Perraults responsibility for the creation of fairy tales has been discussed by many specialists
over the years: some say that what he actually did was take folklore stories, add some morals
and presented them as fairy tales, a way in which children could learn valuable lessons of life.
Others consider that Perrault only managed to put up certain limits for childrens
development. We may not know exactly Perraults intention to manipulate or teach children,
but it is widely known that, as a father, he had a strong interest in his childrens education;
therefore, a logical assumption would be that Perrault really wanted to help children learn
manners and educate themselves through reading.
Even though the idea of teaching and preparing children for the future with the use of books
and stories is still practiced today, it had a much deeper and stronger significance when that
fairy tale first originated.
In order to understand better the influence of fairy-tales, we must look at Norbert Elias
(1994:1-16) The Civilizing Process to see what teachings and morals were introduced in fairy
tales in order to make children grow up to be exemplary citizens of the 17th century society.
It is widely known that for centuries men and women had very distinct rights. Their routines
were very different, at least in the upper class society. Men were seen as the master of the
household and women were considered to be weak and mostly a means of reproduction. They
were forced to live their lives in their husbands shadow, raising the children and taking care
of the household. Back then families were not based on love, but rather on wealth, social
influence and titles. Womens spouses did not appreciate them, men often having affaires and
illegitimate children. These things were considered normal back then.
Fairy tales taught little girls to marry a prince or a handsome boy, someone rich, settle down
and give birth to a male heir (preferably), then live the rest of their life acting like a lady
emotional, sensitive, nave and pretty. Women were supposed to look pretty and love their

husband no matter what. Women had to accept this and be happy. We can see that in The
Master Cat, the princess marries The Marquis of Carabas for his looks, wealth and title. Even
nowadays little girls want to be princesses and marry a handsome and rich prince, proof that
many of those standards and the way they were presented to little children had an enormous
impact across time and in many societies.
Men, on the other hand, were supposed to be brave, intelligent and successful. They had to
dominate the opposite sex, make money and provide for the family. If they had money, they
were pretty much free to do anything they wanted. Many slept in separate beds or even lived
in different houses from their wives and children. Men had to be socially active in order to be
successful. We have another example of these standards in The Master Cat the cat, even
though he has a modest background, manages to give his master and himself a better life, a
royal life. He maintains the beliefs perfectly: he takes care of his family (his master), he is
socially active (he constantly speaks with the king and is an influential presence to others
the peasants working in the fields), he makes money and gains a title (he steals the ogres
castle and entitles his master a Marquis). Perraults fairy tales usually targeted womens social
behaviour because, as Zipes (1983:25) considers, he was afraid of empowered women who
knew what to do with their lives without the help of a male presence. The Master Cat is an
exception, he is how the author sees the role of a man in his society, therefore how he sees
himself.
In the 17th century the difference between the upper class and lower class was a lot bigger
than today. All poor people were uneducated because they couldnt afford schooling, and as
the upper class maintained the economic power, lower class people looked up to them, trying
to imitate them as best they could. This is why the fairy tale had such a great impact over the
whole world. Even though most poor people were not able to read, the stories and their morals
were passed on to other generations by word of mouth.
Also, the ideology behind these stories and the way they were introduced to society must not
be underestimated. Christian Zimmer (1974:138) remarks that ideology does not use violence
or aggression to convince, but rather becomes a reality on its own, using amusement to gain
the confidence of the reader and subject him to its influences. Therefore, Zimmer (1974:138)
concludes that To amuse oneself is to disarm oneself. Nave and unexperienced children
become more prone to its influence by its pretty presentation. Still, Perrault and his associates
are considered to produce harmless amusement. One must take notice that fairy tales are not

the major influence in a childs life, but neither are they neutral. Even so, Albert Einstein once
said: If you want your children to be intelligent, read them fairy tales. If you want them to be
more intelligent, read them more fairy tales.
Because the suggested standards of the 17th century were introduced in fairy tales, and the
stories had such a great success, we are still able to see in our society behaviour that is
considered to be archaic and sexist. Even though womens rights have changed over the
years, empowering them, many still believe that their goal in life is to have children, take care
of the house and please their man. Men are still considered to be the head of the family and
main provider, even though in todays society, women and men are equally capable of
sustaining themselves and their offspring for that matter.

3.2 Setting and Plot


The Master Cat is one of the first fairy tales, which makes it a prototype and a starting point
for other stories of the genre to begin. A fairy tale is a fictional story in which folkloric
characters can be found (such goblins, trolls, witches, talking animals and many others) and in
which the fight between good and evil is presented, good always prevailing. The term is also
used to describe a story that ends happily - "fairy tale ending" even though not all fairy tales
endings are happy. Fairy tales have their roots in the oral tradition. They are found spread
across many different cultures. To better see the characteristics of the genre in relation to the
fairy tale, a summary of the original story is needed in order for it to be analysed:
The son of a certain miller, who, when the father died left to his three sons his fortune, got the
least of it a cat. He was very disappointed, and afraid of how he would make a living. He
said that at least when he was starving he could eat the cat, but the cat replied that this will
never happen. Then the cat put on a pair of boots to look presentable and set out to gain
favour with the king of the land. He caught two large pheasants in a bag and brought them to
the king's palace, where he announced it as a gift from the Marquis of Carabas (the name he
had invented for his master). The king liked the gift, and the cat returned often to bring the
king pheasants or rabbits. One day, the cat found out that the king was taking his beautiful
daughter on a riverside trip, and he saw an opportunity. He instructed his master to take a bath
in the river. When the king and his carriage came by, the cat started yelling that the Marquis of
Carabas was drowning. The carriage stopped, and the kings servants took the cat's master and

clothed him, because the cat had told them that his master had been robbed. The king was
familiar with his reputation as the Marquis of Carabas, but did not know the man, yet still
made a place for him in the carriage. Dressed elegantly, in the finery of royalty, the princess
instantly fell in love with him, and they talked together as they went on their journey. The cat
went ahead to prepare the castle for the king and his masters arrival. He went ahead to the
palace of an ogre. The ogre was magical and could turn himself into any form. The cat tricked
him into turning into a mouse. When he changed into a mouse, the cat ate him. Then he
prepared the palace for his master and kings arrival. When the king reached the castle, he was
amazed of the wealth and power of the Marquis, because the ogre's castle was large and
spacious. He insisted that the Marquis marry his daughter the princess, and they lived happily
ever after.
The Master Cat, as mentioned before, is a classic fairy tale, not only because of its age, but
because of its structure. As any other fairy tale, it presents the fight between good and evil, in
this case presented as the fight between poverty and wealth but also the fight between
domesticity (a house-cat) and wilderness (an ogre). Poverty is the one that would not let our
main character live because of starvation and homelessness, and wealth is the one that will
sustain him with abundant meals and luxurious homes.
As in all fairy tales, the setting is unknown; the difference is that it does not begin with the
famous Once upon a time or There once was. It starts abruptly with the death of the
miller and the legacy left to his three sons. Neither a time nor a place is presented to the
reader; only afterwards do we find out that there is a king, meaning that that the action is
situated in a kingdom, but that is all the information we receive. The atemporality of the story
is a trademark of the fairy tale. Also, the enchanted animals such as a talking cat; the
magical numbers the three sons; the royalty the king and the princess; the poverty the
sons miller afraid of how he would make a living; the evil character the ogre; and of course,
the happy ending the master and his cat become rich. Some characteristics of the classical
fairy tale may not be present in this case, due to the fact that it one of the prototypes of the
genre.
As we can see from the summary of the story, the plot is slightly different than the classic one.
The cat does not go on a coming of age journey but rather on a journey to gain wealth and
stability for both him and his master. We can argument that finding stability and making a life
for ones self is an act of maturity, but the cats motivation is not internal, but external, he

knows that he will have to take care of his master. He is the main character, but not the main
beneficiary. Even though usually the master takes care of his pet, in The Master Cat, the
situation is reversed. This gives the cat a higher rank among animals and people as well. His
character and his abilities allow him to conceive a plan and fulfil it successfully.
The stages which the cat and his master must complete are not as difficult as one of a journey
made alone (by the master or the cat); there usually are three stages or trials the main
character must complete. The two of them form a team in which the cat has the initiative and
becomes the leader. The stages they must complete are: making the king accustomed to the
name of the Marquis of Carabas and gaining his favour; making the two meet, but without any
proof that the Marquis is actually poor; gaining a fortune and impressing the king, thus
making him give the hand of his daughter to the Marquis. The cats role is more difficult,
because he has to think of the plan, find a way to implement it, gain the kings favour, gain the
riches for his master; and all of this being while he is simply considered a humble servant.
The millers son only has to be there and listen to the cat. The story is not of fairness, but
rather of intelligence, or association with intelligent people.

3.3 Main character analysis


Often known as Puss, due to the species it represents, the cat is obviously the main character
of Perraults The Master Cat. Even though the cat does not have a name, or at least, not one
that is mentioned in the text, people have found him worthy to be called Puss. The name
comes from his importance as a character and his ability to speak, wear boots and even more
important because of his intelligence. He is mostly considered to be a positive character, a
role model for men smart, loyal and effective.
As a representative of the fairy tale genre, Puss is the protagonist that goes on a life- changing
experience in which he reveals his true potential and gains wealth for both himself and his
master. He is the representative of good against evil, especially when he manages to trick the
ogre. Unlike other fairy tales, he is neither rich nor handsome, but extremely intelligent.
Many readers and critics link the main characters analysis with the moral of the story and its
contribution on child influence. If we were to analyse the story by its moral, Puss is not a
personified animal, the fact that he is a cat actually signifies the disability of a man that
doesnt benefit from good looks. Moreover, as an unattractive man, he is extremely different

from the other men in society; therefore he is considered an outlaw, or a freak. He represents
the struggle of a disadvantaged man in a judging society. The story teaches a lesson: even if
you struggle, you will prevail, if you have the necessary attributes and abilities.
We can also analyse the story from a different point of view, one that considers Puss the loyal
servant of a more intelligent species humans. Although Puss is more of a master to the
millers son rather than vice versa; he guides him and helps him on how to become rich and
successful; in the end, the millers son becomes a Marquis and Puss is a servant, a rich
servant, but still, a servant.
Furthermore, the morals of the story have been changed over the years, as has the cats
characterisation. Sometimes (for example, when he helps his master) he is considered to be a
hero loyal to his master and intelligent, other times (for example, when he tricks the ogre
and eats him, then steals his castle) he is considered manipulative and greedy. At first, the
fairy tale was meant to provide a male role model for children not extremely good looking
but intelligent and successful. Later on, it meant that the (suddenly gained) wealth and
appearance of the millers son won him the hand of the princess, therefore, in life, money and
appearances are very important.
As a general opinion, and more realistically, we can conclude that Puss is in fact a loyal and
intelligent servant that helps his master and, in the process, gains benefits as well. His
achievements are not fully acknowledged because of his origins, yet, for a cat, he is most
extraordinary and lives a blessed life.
Zipes (1983:40) considers that, due to his manners, intelligence and devotion, Puss represents
the educated bourgeoisie secretary which acts in his masters best interest. He is a pleasant
presence for the king, he gives him abundant gifts to his liking and he impresses by with his
manners although he is a cat.
Furthermore, in the story it is never mentioned that Puss is considered to be a cat by the King
or the Princess. With his boots, hat and leather belt, impeccable manners to soothe the upper
society, he may as well be mistaken for an educated servant. Therefore, Puss may also be a
master of disguise, an impostor with good intentions. The only one who knows the truth is his
master, and he is unlikely to reveal his true identity. Therefore, Puss becomes the underrated
hero of society.

If so far I have looked at Perraults text as the main source of the myth of Puss, in the next
chapter, another version of the fairy tale will be presented David Garnetts The Master Catthe true and unexpurgated story of Puss in Boots, as well as a comparison between the
original and Garnetts version. Also, an analysis will be made, in order to demonstrate the
differences between the two stories.

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