Poppy

Chapters 5-8 develop the primary conflicts, progressing them to the point that Poppy is motivated out of her familiar world into the world of the quest. Chapters 5 and 6 return to the motif of fear established in the first chapters to develop the conflict and juxtaposition between the mice and Mr. Ocax, as Poppy realizes that, for all her father’s bravado, he’s just as afraid of the owl as she is (42). Similarly, Chapter 7 introduces for the first time the question of Mr. Ocax’s fear, when Poppy realizes that he is hiding something about New House from the mice. The possibility of Mr. Ocax’s vulnerability and the need to redeem herself in her family’s eyes drives Poppy out of Gray House and into Dimwood Forest at the end of Chapter 8, signaling the nascent stages of her hero’s quest.

Chapter 5 develops The Importance of Challenging Assumptions theme via the mice’s reaction to Ragweed’s death. When Poppy shares the news, she is surprised that none seem sympathetic. She feels that “while everyone expressed sorrow, Poppy suspected that few grieved” (34) and is horrified when she receives the response, “Well, if someone had to be sacrificed…” (34), suggesting that Ragweed’s death was justifiable. These reactions further separate Poppy’s perspective from her family’s, pushing her towards a direct challenge to Mr. Ocax’s rule when she embarks on a journey to discover his weakness.

This weakness is suggested in Chapter 6, when Poppy notices uncertainty in the owl’s voice (49) at Lungwort’s mention of New House. This is an important moment for Poppy, as it challenges her implicit assumption that the owl is invulnerable. This moment foreshadows the reveal later in the novel that New House holds something that Mr. Ocax is afraid of, suggesting it as the key to defeating him.

The symbolism of Ragweed’s earring is also introduced in Chapter 6. Poppy spots it in the pile of pellets at the base of Mr. Ocax’s tree, regurgitated from his earlier meal. Poppy reclaims the earring from the owl’s territory, establishing the earring as a symbol of defiance of Mr. Ocax. This reflects Ragweed’s rebellious role in the narrative, a role which Poppy herself is beginning to embody as well. Chapter 8 further develops this symbolism as Poppy takes the earring for courage (64) before embarking on her quest. By this action, the earring becomes a talisman of sorts on Poppy’s journey that protects her and strengthens her in moments of doubt.

Chapter 7 builds on the suggestion of Mr. Ocax’s vulnerability, developing into the question that drives the objective of Poppy’s quest: What is Mr. Ocax hiding at New House? The Importance of Challenging Assumptions is reinforced as Poppy ponders the question, thinking as Ragweed might have done. Doing so is what leads her to her insight that “what did refusing permission allow Mr. Ocax to do? It allowed him to keep the mice away from New House!” (58). Questioning his motives instead of accepting his reasoning that Poppy and Ragweed were to blame reveals the truth behind the owl’s actions, foreshadowing more insights about Mr. Ocax’s dubious rule to come.

Poppy’s decision at the end of Chapter 7 is an important character moment for her. She disregards the rules in order to investigate the situation at New House, with the hope of helping her family. This is a distinct change from her attitude at the beginning of the novel: In Chapter 2, she was so scarred by Ragweed’s death that she resolved never to challenge the rules again. Her decision to do so here furthers the previous development as Poppy’s attitude towards her family and Mr. Ocax slowly change, culminating in a defining moment when she takes her first step towards overcoming fear—the primary theme of her character arc.

Poppy’s decision also subtly reinforces The Power of Love theme as she sets out at the end of Chapter 8. She is motivated by her love for her family, pointing to love’s power to help one overcome fear. Similarly, the symbolism of Ragweed’s earring suggests that her love for Ragweed has led her to do as he would have done, to defy unjust power structures and be courageous in the face of them. As she takes her first steps into the world of the quest, Poppy is positioned for the next stages of her character development. She leaves her ordinary surroundings behind to venture into Dimwood Forest, where she will encounter trials and undergo psychological maturation as on a classic hero’s journey, preparing her to confront the ultimate evil (Mr. Ocax) at the novel’s climax.