Mr Stink

Fiction | Novel | Middle Grade | Published in 2009

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Summary

Background

Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Chapters 1-7

Chapters 8-14

Chapters 15-21

Chapters 22-26

Character Analysis

Themes

Symbols & Motifs

Important Quotes

Essay Topics

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Discussion Questions

Themes

The Harmful Stigma Against Poverty

In Mr. Stink, the title character is ostracized because of his poverty and circumstances as an unhoused person. Because of the townspeople’s classist attitudes, Mr. Stink lives a lonely life on a wooden bench in the park with only his dog, Duchess, for company.

Chloe and corner store owner Raj discuss this problem, agreeing that it is disheartening that so many unhoused people are ignored by their neighbors: “Too many people walk on by and pretend they’re not there. […] Any of us could become homeless one day” (51). This conversation emphasizes the fragility of societal stability and depicts recognition of the humanity in everyone, regardless of their circumstances.

While kind-hearted people like Raj and Chloe want to acknowledge Mr. Stink and the fact that hard times can befall anyone, many people in the town look down on unhoused people. Chloe’s mother, Mrs. Crumb, is a snobbish character who harshly judges unhoused people like Mr. Stink. Her belief that unhoused people are worth less than others, and her perception of them as “creatures” perpetuates a dangerous stigma of unhoused people as less worthy of care and consideration. As a political candidate, Mrs. Crumb tries to galvanize the town to oust unhoused people from their streets. She writes in her pamphlet, “All homeless people, or ‘soap-dodgers,’ are to be banned from our streets. They are a menace to society. And, more importantly, they smell” (84). She teaches her children these attitudes as well, forbidding them from speaking to Mr. Stink or any unhoused individuals. This behavior illustrates how systemic prejudice against unhoused people is often reinforced through both familial and political systems, creating barriers that perpetuate exclusion.

The stigma of poverty follows Mr. Stink throughout the book, even when he gains fans from his TV appearance and attends a meeting at 10 Downing Street. Mr. Stink’s disastrous meeting with the prime minister highlights how many unhoused people encounter performative acts of inclusion and kindness that do not take their opinions into account or really help them. Of his plan to use Mr. Stink as a candidate, the prime minister says, “It’s genius! It really is. If you joined the party, it would fool the public into thinking we cared about the homeless!” (219). While Mr. Stink hopes that the Prime Minister will value his insight, the prime minister only wants to use Mr. Stink’s popularity to help himself and advance his career. The Prime Minister admits, “It wouldn’t mean anything, it would just make me look like a fantastic, tramp-loving guy” (222). Even with the public behind him, Mr. Stink is not taken seriously by those in power, and he is even casually spoken to in derogatory terms, highlighting the powerful stigma faced by unhoused people.

The Power of Kindness and Generosity

In Mr. Stink, many characters’ lives are changed forever by the kindness and generosity of both Chloe Crumb and Mr. Stink, demonstrating the power of kindness to change people’s attitudes, relationships, and circumstances. Even with her limited influence as a 12-year old, Chloe goes out of her way to show Mr. Stink kindness. For instance, she first offers him a five-pound note, explaining that she didn’t really need it and wanted him to have it. When he explained that he preferred sausages, she kindly got some for him, helping him and his dog have a good meal. Mr. Stink is moved by her generosity, thanking her for her “[u]nimaginable kindness” (44). Chloe’s kind acts are more than simply a passing gesture; her concern for Mr. Stink is genuine, motivating her to try to find him a permanent home: “If he is banned from the streets, where on earth is he going to go?” (87). By taking tangible actions to help, Chloe demonstrates that even small gestures of kindness, like providing food or companionship, can have a meaningful impact on someone's life.

Chloe’s kindness also influences her own family, changing her mother and sister’s attitudes toward Mr. Stink and unhoused people in general. Mrs. Crumb apologizes to Mr. Stink for her behavior saying she “got it so wrong” and assuring him that she will change her policies about unhoused people (246). Annabelle likes Chloe’s idea for Mr. Stink to live in their home with them. She says Mr. Stink staying with them “would be great! (252) and even asks him to “[s]tay with [them] for Christmas Day and Boxing Day at least” (256). These shifts show how kindness has the power to break down prejudice and foster empathy, even among those who initially hold discriminatory views.

Mr. Stink returns Chloe’s kindness. While he does not have any material things to share with her, Mr. Stink is emotionally generous, supporting her ambition to be a storyteller by offering genuine interest. He tells Chloe that he “can’t wait to find out what happens in book two” (114). He also defends her from her bullies, Rosamund and Mrs. Crumb, reminding her that “[t]he real loser is the person who stuck it to you in the first place” (21). Mr. Stink’s kindness has a profound effect on Chloe’s life, building her confidence and motivating her to continue developing her talents. By showing that kindness can be emotional as well as material, the book highlights how mutual acts of care create transformative relationships.

Individual Experiences of Unhoused People

By emphasizing Mr. Stink’s individuality and humanity, the novel provides insight into the individual experiences of unhoused people. A sensitive and imaginative person, Chloe instinctively knows that unhoused people are simply people who have their own unique life stories. Indeed, she daydreams about Mr. Stink’s own background, wondering who he was as a young man and how he came to live on a wooden bench at her local park. Chloe wonders if he was “an astronaut who had fallen to earth, and, in the shock, lost his memory?” (95). In imagining him as an innocent convict or a pirate forced to walk the plank, she applies childlike curiosity to imagine his distinct life, demonstrating that she thinks him capable of anything, just like anyone else.

Chloe’s curiosity is satisfied when she finally learns the truth about Mr. Stink’s past, and realizes that he is actually Lord Darlington. His posh accent, refined taste, and genteel manners all pointed to a life in the aristocracy, making his life as an unhoused person all the more unlikely. Mr. Stink’s unusual story highlights how all people differ from each other in terms of life experiences and circumstances, as Mr. Stink went from feeling that he “had it all” to tragically losing everything in a terrible accident (228). This portrayal suggests that people should avoid making assumptions about unhoused individuals and instead approaches their stories with curiosity and respect.

Mr. Stink’s own comments about unhoused people also support the reality that all unhoused people have complex, unique backgrounds, just like everyone else. When he is given the opportunity to speak to the public on the television program Question Time, Mr. Stink focuses on humanizing unhoused people by discussing their individuality: “Why do you think so many people are living on the streets? […] I would venture that part of the problem stems from the fact that we are seen as statistics rather than people” (184). His reminder asks the public and those in power to not discuss unhoused people as a homogenous group, but to recognize their individuality and try to connect with them on a more personal level. By framing unhoused individuals as people first and foremost, Mr. Stink challenges societal stereotypes and emphasizes the importance of dignity and personal connection.