"Farmer's Wife with Carving knife" © 2001 wood engraving (ed. 35) image: 6 x 4 in. $150.00 (go to "Hi There" for purchase information)
The stereotypical image of women and mice is a panic stricken woman up on a chair, escaping a mouse. Mother Goose didn't want the little ones to have this kind of image of women, especially of women who are farmer's wives. She preferred presenting a woman who takes pleasure in mutilating visually impaired rodents. It should be no surprise then, that the little ones grow up having no hesitation, pulling the wings off butterflies or terrorizing cats.
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THREE BLIND MICE Three blind mice! See how they run! They all ran after the farmer's wife, Who cut off their tails with a carving knife. Did you ever see such a sight in your life As three blind mice? |