History Literature / PussInBoots

"The Master Cat, or The Cat in Boots" ("Le Maistre Chat, ou Le Chat Botté"), more commonly known as "Puss in Boots", is a French FairyTale by Creator/CharlesPerrault about a loyal cat [[TheTrickster who uses trickery]] to bring his master from [[RagsToRoyalty the lowest rung of society to the highest]] (full text [[https://www.pitt.edu/~dash/perrault04.html here]]). The title character has become such an iconic figure that he was the former TropeNamer for the trope ChessmasterSidekick.

"The Master Cat, or The Cat in Boots" ("Il gatto con gli stivali"), more commonly known as "Puss in Boots", is a Italian FairyTale (though the most popular version of it was published in France) by Creator/CharlesPerrault about a loyal cat [[TheTrickster who uses trickery]] to bring his master from [[RagsToRoyalty the lowest rung of society to the highest]] (full text [[https://www.pitt.edu/~dash/perrault04.html here]]). The title character has become such an iconic figure that he was the former TropeNamer for the trope ChessmasterSidekick.

"The Master Cat, or The Cat in Boots" ("Le Maistre Chat, ou Le Chat Botté"), more commonly known as "Puss in Boots", is a Italian FairyTale (though the most popular version of it was published in France) by Creator/CharlesPerrault about a loyal cat [[TheTrickster who uses trickery]] to bring his master from [[RagsToRoyalty the lowest rung of society to the highest]] (full text [[https://www.pitt.edu/~dash/perrault04.html here]]). The title character has become such an iconic figure that he was the former TropeNamer for the trope ChessmasterSidekick.

"The Master Cat, or The Cat in Boots" ("Le Maistre Chat, ou Le Chat Botté"), more commonly known as "Puss in Boots", is a French FairyTale by Creator/CharlesPerrault about a loyal cat [[TheTrickster who uses trickery]] to bring his master from [[RagsToRoyalty the lowest rung of society to the highest]] (full text [[https://www.pitt.edu/~dash/perrault04.html here]]). The title character has become such an iconic figure that he was the former TropeNamer for the trope ChessmasterSidekick.

The character of Puss received a resurgence in notoriety after appearing in 2004's fairytale pastiche ''WesternAnimation/Shrek2'', played by Creator/AntonioBanderas. The Puss of ''Shrek'' bears little resemblance to the original character beyond being a sharp-dressed ogre-hunting GuileHero, but [[IconicSequelCharacter proved popular enough]] to [[BreakoutCharacter receive multiple spinoffs]]: ''WesternAnimation/PussInBoots'' in 2011, ''WesternAnimation/TheAdventuresOfPussInBoots'' from 2015 to 2018, and ''WesternAnimation/PussInBootsTheLastWish'' in 2022.

The character of Puss received a resurgence in notoriety after appearing in 2004's fairytale pastiche ''WesternAnimation/Shrek2'', played by Creator/AntonioBanderas. The Puss of ''Shrek'' bears little resemblance to the original character beyond being a sharp-dressed ogre-hunting GuileHero, but [[IconicSequelCharacter proved popular enough]] to [[BreakoutCharacter receive multiple spinoffs]]: ''WesternAnimation/PussInBoots'' in 2011, ''WesternAnimation/TheAdventuresOfPussInBoots''[[note]]a Creator/{{Netflix}} cartoon series which ran for six seasons[[/note]] in 2015, and ''WesternAnimation/PussInBootsTheLastWish'' in 2022.

Please note that ''WesternAnimation/PussInBoots'' is ''not'' an adaptation of the fairy tale, but a ''WesternAnimation/{{Shrek}}'' spinoff that has virtually nothing in common with it except starring a GuileHero cat.

"The Master Cat, or The Cat in Boots" ("Le Maistre Chat, ou Le Chat Botté"), more commonly known as "Puss in Boots", is a French FairyTale by Creator/CharlesPerrault about a [[TheTrickster cat who uses trickery]] to bring his master from [[RagsToRoyalty the lowest rung of society to the highest]] (full text [[https://www.pitt.edu/~dash/perrault04.html here]]. The title character has become such an iconic figure that he was the former TropeNamer for the trope ChessmasterSidekick.

* WhatHappenedToTheMouse: The reason Puss needs a pair of boots to begin with is never explained and they're barely mentioned after he gets them.

* AntiHero: Puss just squeaks by this trope due to IGaveMyWord; everything he does in the story is to keep end of promise. Furthermore, Modern adaptations [[AdaptationalHeroism tend to be kinder to Puss]], establishing the Ogre as a monster who had it coming rather than just a show-off, having Puss promise to free the folk along the road from the tyranny of the Ogre if they play along, and making him treat the kid with a little more respect.

The cat hurries ahead of the coach, ordering the country folk along the road to tell the king that the land belongs to the "Marquis of Carabas", saying that if they do not he will [[MoralDissonance cut them into mincemeat]]. (A somewhat more plausible and palatable variant occurs in some versions: he claims that vicious gangs of bandits are plundering the countryside, and that his master has a powerful army these bandits would never dare to provoke, so the peasants should claim to anyone who asks that everything belongs to his master so that the bandits won't attack.) The cat then runs to a castle inhabited by an [[VoluntaryShapeshifting ogre (sometimes a wizard) with shape-shifting abilities]]. Puss flatters and taunts the ogre into proving his powers by [[TrickingTheShapeshifter transforming into a mouse]]... which Puss promptly dispatches and [[JustEatHim devours]]. The king arrives at the castle (which Puss claims belongs to his master) and, impressed with the bogus Marquis and his estate, gives the lad his [[StandardHeroReward daughter in marriage]]. Thereafter, the cat enjoys life as a great lord who runs after mice only for his own amusement.

"The Master Cat, or The Cat in Boots" ("Le Maistre Chat, ou Le Chat Botté"), more commonly known as "Puss in Boots", is a French FairyTale by Creator/CharlesPerrault about a [[TheTrickster cat who uses trickery]] to bring his master from [[RagsToRoyalty the lowest rung of society to the highest]]. The title character has become such an iconic figure that he was the former TropeNamer for the trope ChessmasterSidekick.

* MyNewGiftIsLame: The third son gets nothing for his inheritance but the family cat. Fortunately, it's a fairy tale, so the ThirdSonWins.

* VillainProtagonist: Puss lies, bullies and murders his way to the top -- although to be fair, he did take [[MoralityPet the kid]] with him. And in most versions of the story, the ogre is a true monster who won't be mourned.
* VoluntaryShapeshifting: The ogre can take other forms. He lets himself be baited into turning into a small rodent, which is his downfall.

The cat hurries ahead of the coach, ordering the country folk along the road to tell the king that the land belongs to the "Marquis of Carabas", saying that if they do not he will [[MoralDissonance cut them into mincemeat]]. (A somewhat more plausible and palatable variant occurs in some versions: he claims that vicious gangs of bandits are plundering the countryside, and that his master has a powerful army these bandits would never dare to provoke, so the peasants should claim to anyone who asks that everything belongs to his master so that the bandits won't attack.) The cat then happens upon a castle inhabited by an [[VoluntaryShapeshifting ogre (sometimes a wizard) with shape-shifting abilities]]. Puss flatters and taunts the ogre into proving his powers by [[TrickingTheShapeshifter transforming into a mouse]], whereupon Puss promptly kills and [[JustEatHim eats him]]. The king arrives at the castle (which Puss claims belongs to his master) and, impressed with the bogus Marquis and his estate, gives the lad his [[StandardHeroReward daughter in marriage]]. Thereafter, the cat enjoys life as a great lord who runs after mice only for his own amusement.

* CatsAreMean: Just ask that ogre..oh wait, you can't, because Puss ate him in order to steal his castle.

* HypercompetentSidekick: Puss is far more clever and competent than his master, the kid.
* LoveAtFirstSight: The princess falls for the miller's youngest son immediately; that must have been a truly "splendid" suit.
* NoNameGiven: The cat isn't actually named in the story - fans just ''assume'' from the title that his name is Puss.

* VillainProtagonist: Puss literally lies, threatens and murders his way to the top - although to be fair, he did take [[MoralityPet the kid]] with him.
* VoluntaryShapeshifting: The ogre can take other forms like a lion and a mouse.

One day, knowing the king and [[EverythingsBetterWithPrincesses his daughter]] are traveling by coach along the riverside, the cat persuades his master to remove his clothes and enter the river. The cat disposes of his master's clothing beneath a rock. As the royal coach nears, the cat begins calling for help in great distress, and, when the king stops to investigate, the cat tells him that his master, the Marquis, has been bathing in the river and robbed of his clothing. The king has the young man brought from the river, dressed in a [[CostumePorn splendid suit of clothes]], and seated in the coach with his daughter, who [[LoveAtFirstSight falls in love with him at once]].

* EverythingsBetterWithPrincesses: The king ''and his daughter'' just happen to travel by in their coach.

The cat hurries ahead of the coach, ordering the country folk along the road to tell the king that the land belongs to the "Marquis of Carabas", saying that if they do not he will [[MoralDissonance cut them into mincemeat]]. (A somewhat more plausible and palatable variant occurs in some versions: he claims that vicious gangs of bandits are plundering the countryside, and that his master has a powerful army these bandits would never dare to provoke, so the peasants should claim to anyone who asks that everything belongs to his master so that the bandits won't attack.) The cat then happens upon a castle inhabited by an [[VoluntaryShapeshifting ogre with shape-shifting abilities]]. Puss flatters and taunts the ogre into proving his powers by [[TrickingTheShapeshifter transforming into a mouse]], whereupon Puss promptly kills and [[JustEatHim eats him]]. The king arrives at the castle (which Puss claims belongs to his master) and, impressed with the bogus Marquis and his estate, gives the lad his [[StandardHeroReward daughter in marriage]]. Thereafter, the cat enjoys life as a great lord who runs after mice only for his own amusement.

The cat hurries ahead of the coach, ordering the country folk along the road to tell the king that the land belongs to the "Marquis of Carabas", saying that if they do not he will [[MoralDissonance cut them into mincemeat]]. (A somewhat more plausible and palatable variant occurs in some versions: he claims that vicious gangs of bandits are plundering the countryside, and that his master has a powerful army these bandits would never dare to provoke, so the peasants should claim to anyone who asks that everything belongs to his master so that the bandits won't attack.) The cat then happens upon a castle inhabited by an [[VoluntaryShapeshifting ogre with shape-shifting abilities]]. Puss flatters and taunts the ogre into proving his powers by transforming into a mouse, whereupon Puss promptly kills and [[JustEatHim eats him]]. The king arrives at the castle (which Puss claims belongs to his master) and, impressed with the bogus Marquis and his estate, gives the lad his [[StandardHeroReward daughter in marriage]]. Thereafter, the cat enjoys life as a great lord who runs after mice only for his own amusement.

* WhatHappenedToTheMouse: The reason Puss needs a pair of boots to begin with is never explained and they're barely mentioned afterwards.

* WhatHappenedToTheMouse: The reason the cat wants a pair of boots to begin with is never elaborated on and they serve no purpose in the story.

* YoungestChildWins: The miller's youngest son gets a cat, who makes him a king.