The Mouse and the Motorcycle

Aspirin is a symbolic obstacle that Ralph must overcome to obtain a more mature perspective. All Keith needs is an aspirin pill to help relieve his fever, but none are available late at night. The humans have no means of solving that problem, but Ralph can help. Like all the resident mice, he thinks about what’s available on the floors of the hotel, and he knows that guests sometimes drop small medicines on the carpet. Ralph locates one downstairs, but getting it up to the second floor is tricky. Ralph’s solution is ingenious, and the found aspirin gets to where it’s needed. The aspirin becomes an important goal for Ralph, who must obtain it to help Keith recover from a fever, save Ralph’s family from hunger, and make amends for his mistakes. The found pill also validates Ralph’s newfound maturity as an adventurer with a good purpose.

Additionally, Ralph puts himself at risk to obtain the aspirin, signaling his transition from selfish to self-sacrificing. Ralph’s father died from accidentally ingesting aspirin, an event that has caused the mice to fear aspirin.

The housekeeper’s vacuum cleaner is symbolic of the dangers that small creatures like Ralph must navigate. Cleary devotes an entire chapter to the otherwise ordinary household appliance to emphasize how perspective affects our everyday lives. To humans, a vacuum cleaner is innocuous and poses no harm. However, to mice, a vacuum cleaner is a “deadly machine” (78), a dangerous predator that threatens their safety. Cleary personifies the vacuum cleaner as “hungry” and metaphorically imbues the machine with other life-like qualities: “[T]he vacuum cleaner died with a long drawn-out groan” (85). In doing so, the vacuum cleaner functions as Ralph’s antagonist, one that he must “outwit” to survive.

The peanut butter sandwich is symbolic of how small acts of kindness can yield big positive effects. Keith offers to get Ralph anything he wants to eat, and this compassionate gesture is meaningful to Ralph. Although Ralph’s mouse family is initially wary of Ralph interacting with people, they join in on eating the sandwich Keith gets for Ralph. The peanut butter sandwich, like the vacuum cleaner, functions to show how size informs perception. Just as the mice view the vacuum cleaner as a dangerous threat, they view the comparatively big peanut butter sandwich as a “feast.” The peanut butter sandwich is also significant because it fosters the burgeoning friendship between Keith and Ralph. Ralph learns that he can trust Keith, and in turn, he decides to keep his promise to Keith and not ride the motorcycle during the day.

The Mountain View Inn, located in California’s Gold Country in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada, has seen better days. Decades earlier, it was a posh destination spot, but now it’s an aging relic. The Gridleys stay there mostly because Mr. Gridley is tired from their long drive; it’s also cheap enough to let them order a connecting room where their son Keith can have some privacy. This, plus the mice who live in the walls, sets the stage for Keith and Ralph’s secret adventures. The hotel symbolizes worthwhile things that sometimes suffer neglect but still have a great deal to offer.

Owls symbolize the living dangers that exist for mice outside of the safety of the hotel. Like the little terrier, other animals pose a threat to the tiny mice. Owls are nocturnal predators that feed on small animals, such as mice, rats, frogs, birds, and even squirrels. Owls have fierce talons that are used to snatch up prey. Ralph’s mother frequently speaks of the dangers of owls, citing the death of Ralph’s Uncle Leroy as an example. Whenever Ralph daydreams about venturing outside, the owls’ hoots cause him to shudder in fear. Although Ralph envied owls for their ability to soar and explore, he finds the thrill of riding the motorcycle more rewarding. In this way, riding the motorcycle builds Ralph’s confidence and courage, and he is able to overcome his fears to secure the aspirin.