The Importance of Kindness in Kath and Mouse by Janet McNaughton

Janet McNaughton’s “Kath & Mouse” illustrates the importance of refraining from treating one with contempt and unkindness. To begin, A literary term used to describe this short story is a pun.  It was a cat and mouse game that Kath is playing on Helen. The author took advantage of it and expresses it in the title. The antagonist, Kath, sounds like Cat, and the protagonist, Helen is described as mouse-like so the author used “mouse” in the title. ''Kath and Mouse.” To add, the author also used personification to describe Helen’s attributes in comparison to a mouse. The narrator describes how she has physical features that a mouse has too. “She did look like a mouse, with mouse-brown hair and small, sharp features” (McNaughton 1). The pun in the title is used to give readers an understanding of the plot of the story. Furthermore, Kath shows no respect for others and believes that belittling everyone else was okay as long as they didn't get in her way. This is evident when Kevin rhetorically asks her, who made her “queen of the world”(McNaughton),  “She didn't even bother to get angry. She just gave me a look that made me feel cold all over and said, “ ‘It doesn’t matter, does it? I just am, so you better get used to it,’ ” and walked away.”(McNaughton 2). Thus, Kath truly believed that she was able to do as she pleased, no matter who got hurt. Being a “queen” means you show elegance and you are kind but her response proved she was not being a kind person and owning up to that position was very careless of her. Thirdly, the author helps readers get an understanding of Kath’s feelings and past situations. This is evident because the narration is based on her twin- brother, Kevin’s point of view and it is told in first person. The narrator has a flashback to when Kath picked on Christine once, she “started having parties. Sleepovers, horror movie parties, even dances. Kath was never invited. Christine wasn't mean, she just acted like Kath didn't exist” (McNaughton 2). This demonstrates that Kath feels excluded and embarrassed to be alone and didn't appreciate not invites to get-togethers. Kath should refrain from being unkind because others, like Christine, may not be a push-over and will choose to reciprocate the attitude she gives. In conclusion, the antagonist realizes, in the end, she was alone because all she did was intimidate people. The protagonist felt welcomed into the school and was able to show everyone who she was, which was not a “mouse.” This short story shows that treating others with disrespect will never benefit oneself.