by Ann Clemmons

Created on: May 13, 2007   Last Updated: October 24, 2011

The Tale Of Peter Rabbit, was originally written in a letter to Beatrix's governess' child when she was ill. It seems Beatrix's beloved rabbit, "Benjamin Bouncer" unknowingly contributed to Peter Rabbit's creation. Beatrix published the story herself after the manuscript had been rejected six times. After having rejected it himself, Frederick Warne decided to publish the story after seeing a copy Beatrix sent to him after it's publication.. Peter Rabbit turned out to be one Beatrix Potter's most beloved characters. A character in three books, The Tale Of Peter Rabbit, The Tale Of Benjamin Bunny, and The Tale Of The Flopsy Bunnies", Peter Rabbit is Beatrix Potter's most beloved creation..

Children all over the world root for Peter to escape from Mr. McGregor garden. Even farmers wish to protect Peter as he hides from Mr. McGregor in the water pail. One could feel the little animals tension, as we see the illustration of Mr. Gregor's foot reaching out to stomp him to smithereens! Beatrix Potter makes no secret of the fact that Mr. McGregor killed his father, so I guess the bunny is scared to death! Peter Rabbit became alive in Beatrix Potters prolific prose, looking very much a rabbit in human clothes. Her use of words as she narrates this character demonstrate the love she felt for him . Perhaps that's one of the reasons it went on to sell more than 150,000 copies, and is one of Beatrix Potters most well known characters.

Peter is left at the end of The Tale Of Peter Rabbit, exhausted from his near death experience, however we see in The Tale Of Benjamin Bunny, that he takes his cousin back to retrieve his jacket and shoes. In the book The Tale Of Mr. Tod, Peter sets out to rescue the Flopsy Bunnies after they are kidnapped. He is an independent little character who resolves his own personal conflict in one story, and helps others resolve theirs, in the next adventure. All the while, we watch his personal growth evolve with each tale.

In any event, whether you're a farmer, child, parent, or bunny rabbit, your wish at the end of The Tale Of Peter Rabbit, is for Peter to have bread, milk, and blackberries for supper!

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