The Littles

For the unconventionally small Little family, the need for weapons symbolizes fear and uncertainty. They realize they need weapons to protect themselves when the Newcombs’ poor housekeeping attracts mice, which poses a threat to the Little family since they are small enough that mice will prey on them. Mr. Little laments that it has become necessary for “this generation of Littles […] to open this weapons chest” (27), signifying that their life has become unpredictable and dangerous. Uncle Pete explains that the last time they needed weapons was a long time ago when he and his father and brothers fought a mice infestation when he was young; Uncle Pete got his limp at that time, and one of his brothers had died. His story underlines that the advent of mice and the necessity for weapons symbolize a shift into scary and uncertain times for the Littles.

As the Littles face varying dangers, weapons continue to represent fear and uncertainty. Even after Tom successfully carries out his plan of scaring the Newcombs into taking action against the mice, the Littles agree that they must remain armed until the mouse problem is gone for good, showing that they still face uncertainty.