The Racketty-Packetty House
Week of June 9, 2008

Block 3:

Leontine gets a new face repaint in this chapter. Cynthia’s cousin gave Leontine a bright red spot on each cheek, repainted her nose and gave her round saucer blue eyes and a comical mouth. He and Cynthia renamed her “Ridiklis.” Ridiklis looked comical after her “face redo”. She was not a beauty any more but always seemed now to be laughing.

The remaining dolls were also renamed: Charlotte became Meg; Amelia became Peg; Clotilda was now Kilmanskeg; Augustus became Gustibus; and Charles Edward Stuart was now known as Peter Piper. The dolls had great fun over their new names, and laughed at everything that befell them and found the fun in it. When their clothes were falling apart, they would make adjustments and look for the good in it. They would have so much fun, making up stories, pretending things, and making games out of nothing that the Fairies couldn’t keep them away from Racketty-Packetty House. In fact, Queen Crosspatch couldn’t stay away. The dolls were so fond of each other and so good-natured that everybody who knew them was fond of them. It was only Cynthia, who did not know them, and thought they were “only a lot of disreputable-looking Dutch dolls” who were no longer in fashion. She did not care for anything unless it was quite new. Even the kitten and puppy loved them. The puppy wanted to marry Leontine but she insisted she could not leave her family as she was now the “useful” one, and did all the kitchen work, and made poultices and beef tea when any of the rest were ill. The whole family adored Ridiklis and could not possibly have done without her.

DISCUSSION:

Cynthia's cousin gives Leontine a new painted face in this chapter. Since she looked funny, they called her Ridiklis. It doesn't seem like a very nice name to call someone. However, with Leontine’s sweet disposition, it didn’t bother her at all.

Cynthia and her cousin then renamed all the dolls. Maybe they didn’t like the old-fashioned names from Queen Victoria's time. I wonder where they came up with Kilmanskeg. Is that a famous character in a book that I have forgotten, or maybe a place?

The dolls were happy with their new names and, in fact, they were happy about everything and saw the good or the fun in everything. That's the way to go through life. Have you ever been around people that always seem upbeat and cheerful and always have a good word for someone or something even when they are going through rough times? Then there are those that are always negative and if you say "white", they say "black" and they will never agree just to be obstinate? I can only imagine the fun that must have gone on in that little dollhouse, and each little doll is so special in his or her own way.

Leontine is no longer the beauty but has become the "useful" one. The entire family relies upon her and she is so giving and kind and loves her family so much that she turns down a proposal of marriage. Leontine may not be a beauty on the outside, but her beauty emanates from within. I just love this little character.
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I find it interesting that the kitten and puppy, along with the fairies, are now the characters that seem to love and care for the dolls instead of the children.
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That's true - along with the mouse and the sparrows.

Maybe Cynthia isn't kind to animals either.
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It seemed quite sad that little animals took better care of the dolls than Cynthia. I am not going to put that to the test here, though. I suspect our dogs would do a bit more than want to marry one of the dolls!

I like the way she introduced the fact that the dolls are severely neglected even before the advent of the new dollhouse, using the animals.

And did you notice--she came right out and said that Cynthia was not a nice person!
'The truth was that Cynthia was not a particularly nice little girl, and did not care much for anything unless it was quite new.'
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I like the way the little animals and Faeries attached themselves so much to our little Racketty-Packetty doll family. It adds so much charm to the story. Not only are we having the dolls becoming alive when no one is looking, but we have the animals talking and visiting, and the Faeries buzzing about, when no one is looking.

I am truly enjoying my imaginary Racketty-Packetty adventure.

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