Symbols
The council/the L.E.B - “…The council is wrong. Yet, observe that none of us will risk telling it so, for fear of the consequences.” (P.10)
In the book Ella Minnow Pea, the High Council of the island Nollop takes advantage of the fear and miscommunication of the islander, in order to use it to their advantage. In co-operation with the police force known as the L.E.B, the High Council spread fear and anguishes around the island. The High Council is a perfect example of a tyrannical government, letting no one but themselves have a say, and abusing their positions to make their lives cushier. The L.E.B is used in the same form as Stalin’s Secret Police and Hitler’s S.S, in ensuring that the council stays in power, and in comfort.
Like other countless other dictatorships, the high council banishes people whenever they see fit, and seizes their property in order to appease their own desires (this act is passed in a legislation decreeing that all property not being inhabited-i.e. the homes of those who were banished from the island-becomes the responsibility of the council to give to whomever they feel fit-i.e. themselves). The aspect of tyranny in Government is one of the major symbols of Ella Minnow Pea.
Nollop - “Love one another, push the perimeter of this glorious language. Lastly, please show proper courtesy; open not your neighbor’s mail” (P.74)
The character Nollop, of whom the Island is named, is known for having coined the phrase: ‘The Quick Brown Fox Jumps Over The Lazy Dog”. A sign with this phrase on it was erected in the center of the island, with its letters’ slowly falling off, providing the basis for the book. The High Council misinterprets this, as Nollop reaching them from beyond, and telling them to stop using those letters that have fallen.
Nollop is the embodiment of misinterpretation. As is shown by his last words-as posted above-Nollop never wished for the Council to abuse its citizens, and would never have accepted banning letters on his behalf. But while he is deceased, Nollop has no say in how his wishes are seen, providing the perfect pinnacle of false impression.
Redrick Lyttle - He has always been the least moronic of the bunch.”(P.109)
Redrick Lyttle is a member of the High Council of Nollop. Unlike his allies, though, he does not believe that Nollop ever wanted the letters to be banned from use, and goes out of his way to make sure that Enterprise Thirty-Two survives. At first, however, he opposes the concept of a shorter pangram with gusto, and puts in unreasonable restrictions on when, and how the sentence must be made.
But more and more, Redrick Lyttle becomes the perfect ally: After fighting to pass Enterprise Thirty-Two, he helped the citizens by passing Statute 28-63, which allowed other letters replace banned ones (E.g.: ‘woot’ instead of ‘would’.) He even works on Enterprise Thirty-Two himself, and becomes Ella’s only connection to the council.
Mr. Lyttle represents how, even when the government seems completely corrupted, some of those in charge will fight the good fight. Redrick Lyttle is what everyone in a suppressed society hopes for: a high-ranking official whom works more for the people then for himself.
William Creevy & supporters - “Valiantly the men took their lashes-later wearing the crimson stripes as emblems of honor…They are members of a sect which believes that Nollop’s wishes have been put to gross misinterpretation. Rather then shunning the letter per Council proclamation, they urge the opposite to the extreme.”(P.81-82)
Early on in the book, a character by the name of William Creevy became the first person banished from the island, after being willingly beaten for his crime of repeating Nollop’s first banned letter, Z. This act is portrayed as a matter of principal, gut, and downright ignorance. Before long, others join Creevy’s fight, with such acts of chutzpah as is honorable to everyone-AN entire family that dresses like duck, quacking to protest the downfall of ‘Q’; the publisher of the last major newspaper putting out a faux-story about bees, where the letter ‘Z’ is constant; an entire sect who believe that the banned words should be used more then ever before….
The acts of this brave people of Nollop, symbolizing perfectly what people are willing to do for their freedom, going to such acts as to lose their homes and families to centralize their principles.
Gorgeanne Towgate - “Please exonerate me in your heart. I am sorry that I was the one to report your violations. I’m so sorry that I was learn what is truly important in our lives too, too late” (P.137)
Gorgeanne Towgate symbolizes three different meanings. The first one is of the people who embrace the totalitarian ways of their government. She completely embraces the idea that Nollop is banning letters from the great beyond, and does everything she can to help. During the course of the book, Gorgeanne Towgate twice pursues Mittie Purcy-Ella’s aunt-when Mittie accidently says the illegal letter Z on separate occasions. Gorgeanne also holds talk group sessions on glorifying Nollop for weaning the society of ‘lexical discourse’ (P.42).
Gorgeanne’s second character comes much later in the story, when she reaches out to Mittie, in the hopes that her son will be saved. The High Council in some way became convinced that Gorgeanne’s son was eight-years-old, the age when children are permanently forbidden from speaking the banned letters. Gorgeanne’s obedience at once turns to frantic worry for her son, who she worries will be banished to the U.S, to live by himself. This act personifies Gorgeanne as a parent who is willing to do anything, and gave up the same amount, to help her child.
Gorgeanne’s final symbolic act is that of desperate insanity. Her son banished to the states, and her husband with him-they thought it better that he having fewer offenses should be the one to stay with their son-Mrs. Towgate falls into a depressed, frantic state, connected deeply with her love for her family. Gorgeanne Towgate eventually goes mad with loneliness, and paints her entire body-painting being her favorite hobby-and dying a few days later. Gorgeanne Towgate uniquely signifies the mindset of the mindless devotee, concerned parent, and desperate lunatic.
Miniature jugs/paintings - “Were Pop to continue to create his miniature, especially those popular [liquor jugs], he will have to emigrate to the U.S.” (P.117)
In times of trouble, people always turn to little distractions in order to keep their minds off their troubles. The main problem with this arrangement is that when there is nothing else to rely on, hobbies turn into obsessions, which can end drastically.
There are two such hobbies in Ella Minnow Pea, both of which had rather dire consequences. The first one was Amos Minnow Pea’s hobby of creating miniature models-liquor jugs especially-and selling them to the states over seas. Before to long, Nollop calls of any trading agreements with the U.S, and the only way for Amos to continue selling any of his miniature jugs, would be for him to leave the island completely. Unfortunately, he does just this, leaving his family in a very tight spot financially, with Ella as the only wage owner.
Another hobby-turned-bad is that of Gorgeanne Towgate’s painting. She had always loved to paint, and when her family was threatened with banishment, it was the only thing to keep her mind off her troubles. Unfortunately for Gorgeanne, absence of people to run the stores, means absence of products. Without her precious hobby, the realization that her family was gone hit her very hard, and Gorgeanne Towgate went insane. Eventually, she found some paint, and painted her upper body in it, dying of lead poison within two days.
The liquor jugs and paints both symbolize how we must not be to reliant on our obsessions, because they cause a lack of consideration for others-in Amos’ part-and are very dangerous if abused-in Gorgeanne’s part.
Amos Minnow Pea's farewell letter - “…Would you mind doing this one last thing for me?
Pack My Box With Five-Dozen Liquor Jugs?
Thank you.
Be Well. Be…”(P.195)
Half way through the book, Ella’s father Amos leaves the island on a matter of principal. In sending a farewell letter to his wife and daughter, in which he accidently solves Enterprise Thirty-Two. Amos Minnow Pea, who makes miniature liquor jugs, and being an alcoholic himself, requests that his remaining family pack five dozen liquor jugs in his suitcase before he leaves the island. The sentence he uses utilizes all twenty-six letters of the English Alphabet, with only thirty-two letters, fitting the parameters of Enterprise Thirty-Two. The letter is overlooked in the tragic events taking place. It is not until much later, when all the letters have fallen from the sign, that the Amos’ farewell address is reviewed. This is a good example the importance of care, and precaution. Had the letter been deciphered earlier, people would not have died, and the whole matter could have ended in a happier sense. It should be learned from Amos Minnow Pea’s accidental letter that nothing should ever be overlooked when freedom is so important.