Three Blind Mice

The Dowdy Wife - Is She Running Toward or Away From Those Mice?

Pogány includes images of both the mice and the farmer's wife, but the focus is on the wife. The mice share the second page with the text of the rhyme, while the farmer's wife appears in this full-page illustration. Unlike most illustrators of this rhyme, he pictures the post-cutting phase of the action. The tails of the mice lie freshly cut [sans blood] behind their nubs as the mice begin to move away from them. These mice are not personified; instead they are illustrated using realistic line and detail. They are, however, not realistically placed on the page. The green wavy horizon, especially under the “running” footsteps of the wife, implies the action is taking place outside; yet, the mice are placed around the opposing page with nothing to suspend them. The only implication of their blindness is the eye squinting of two of the mice. The focal character, the farmer's wife, is running, large carving knife in hand, away from the mice. The expression on her face is one of disgust and fear. Her cheeks and nose are puffy / plump, red, and shiny. Her clothing appears to be mismatched: polished black lace-up shoes, purple, yellow, and orange striped stockings, and a blue and white plaid-like housedress. Overall, she appears dowdy, unappealing, and unsympathetic.