In the tale of Squirrel Nutkin, the titular character is a young boy squirrel who keeps getting up to mischief. The other squirrels are all busy collecting nuts whilst Squirrel Nutkin tries to wind up old Brown – an old owl whose home is close to where they are collecting nuts. By the end of the short tail, old Brown gets fed up of Nutkin and physically deforms him – I won’t spoil it as to how.
I wonder if nowadays Squirrel Nutkin would be recognised as having some form of ADHD or similar? And would be handled accordingly – instead of old brown maiming him. Even in just the first two books by Beatrix Potter I’ve read, I’m noticing a theme of “If you play up or misbehave, you get punished”.
Nevertheless a good read.
Definitely my favourite Potter story! The ending is dark, but it seemed rather funny and a fitting comeuppance for a cocksure, bratty squirrel who thought far too much of himself!
And I see what you did there with “short tail” – yep, an exceptionally short tail in the end, haha.
Haha. Thanks for reading! I really must get on and read the rest of these stories.