Understanding ‘Big’ Jack Horner’s Nursery Rhyme in Puss in Boots: The Last Wish

“Exploring ‘Big’ Jack Horner’s Dark Nursery Rhyme in Puss in Boots: The Last Wish”

In Puss in Boots: The Last Wish, the character “Big” Jack Horner takes on the role of the main antagonist, drawing inspiration from a nursery rhyme with a dark and ominous meaning. When Puss in Boots, the fearless feline hero portrayed by Antonio Banderas, realizes that he has only one life left, he embarks on a quest to find the Wishing Star. This mystical artifact has the power to grant any wish, including the restoration of his nine lives.

However, Puss is not the only one in pursuit of the Wishing Star. His rivals include Goldilocks and the Three Bears, as well as the menacing “Big” Jack Horner. To achieve his goal, Puss teams up with new friend Perrito, voiced by Harvey Guillén, and his former flame Kitty Softpaws, played by Salma Hayek. Together, they set out on an epic journey to change Puss’s destiny. “Big” Jack Horner becomes a major obstacle in Puss’s quest, offering an innovative and unsettling twist to the story.

The character of Jack Horner originates from an English nursery rhyme that dates back to the 1760s and is commonly found in collections like “Mother Goose’s Melody.” This nursery rhyme has a history of being associated with opportunism and greed, often serving as a satirical subject in political critiques by writers such as Samuel Bishop and Thomas Love Peacock during the early 19th century. Even Danbert Nobacon incorporated it into his anti-authoritarian book, “The Unfairy Tale,” in 1985.

The original nursery rhyme goes like this: “Little Jack Horner Sat in the corner, Eating his Christmas pie; He put in his thumb, And pulled out a plum, And said, ‘What a good boy am I!'”

This rhyme symbolized individuals, such as greedy politicians or authoritative figures, who indulged themselves while ignoring the needs of the less fortunate. “Little” Jack Horner was criticized for failing to share his pie. Many educators even rewrote the ending to the poem to teach the importance of sharing.

Puss in Boots: The Last Wish cleverly parodies this nursery rhyme by depicting “Little” Jack Horner as a grown-up character consumed by selfishness and megalomania. He inherits a massive pie factory but sees it as “useless crap” because he’s envious of fairytale creatures. He hoards magical objects in an attempt to control all magic in the world. The character’s transformation into “Big” Jack Horner underscores his inability to appreciate his loving parents and happy childhood, symbolized by the plum in the Christmas pie.

Despite his tragic backstory, “Big” Jack Horner’s sadistic and ruthless behavior makes him an irredeemable character. His violence and cruelty towards those who disobey him or make fun of his size paint a grim picture. “Big” Jack Horner’s demise in Puss in Boots: The Last Wish is seen as satisfying and well-deserved due to his complete lack of remorse and his recognition of his own vileness.

Incorporating this dark and satirical nursery rhyme into the storyline adds depth to the character of “Big” Jack Horner and showcases the film’s clever approach to storytelling.

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