An alternative explanation to Mutawintji's [Archive]

artme

10th May 2013, 12:00 PM

This explanation was put forth by an old schoolmate of mine: (I shall paraphrase)

Pussy is late getting home, when questioned invents a tale about going off to London to see her highness.

OK, What didja see? Another invention is put forth. To justify his absence he thinks of the only way he could
be of use to the queen and so the mouse chasing.

OK Gents! Do both these interpretations fit the mold??

Mutawintji

11th May 2013, 10:48 AM

Yes .. It does. And there are a number of explanations that describe the same event. Wiki has a variation of yours above.

In england, (I'm guessing) at this time cats were the the principle control of rats. And everybody, including the queen probably tripped over them regularly. So why was this one made into a moral/rhyme ?

I think the poet saw the 'message in the moment'. He/She phrased so that others could see it too. And this is what has carried it down the ages. I'm guessing again, but I think anyone from this age would have 'de-coded' the rhyme easily, because the rhymes were known to refer to life circumstance ..whereas today, we communicate in more tech/ sophisticated ways, and we do not know or need to look into jingles.

There are many tales that tell the same message. The Arabian Nights refers to this behaviour in many of its tales. Most are around a poor man, fool, or donkey that is presented with the means to incredible wealth .. And thru short sightedness, fear, lack of education misses his opportunity.
Time and again.

In medieval times when the Arabian nights were entering Europe the 'Holy Roman Church' feared apostasy as they became increasingly popular .. So they wrote their own 'arabian nights'. This book is called the Gesta Romanarum', and unlike the nights, which is a true uncensored 'oral history' of the time this book is pure catholic propaganda.

Nevertheless it carries a few versions of 'cognitive dissonance' ... And, a piece of trivia, many of Shakesphere's plays, even tho it was compiled 600 years ?? before his birth.

but finally ... Haahaa, (I'm such a smart ####) the Who-am-I question was ... What nursery rhyme summates Cognitive Dissonance, not what does 'pussycat, pussycat' mean ...

::)

cool bananas ... Greg