Mrs. Frisby is primarily afraid to follow Jeremy's advice due to her deep-seated fear of flying on his back and an instinctive terror of the owl.
Jeremy, a friendly crow, offers to transport Mrs. Frisby through the air, which is a swift and practical solution for her travel needs. However, for a small, ground-dwelling creature like a mouse, the idea of being airborne, high above the familiar safety of the earth, presents significant apprehension.
Here's a breakdown of her fears:
Reason for Fear | Explanation |
---|---|
Fear of Flying | For a ground-dwelling mouse, aerial travel is unnatural and involves a terrifying loss of control and exposure to heights and speed. |
Fear of the Owl | Owls are natural predators of mice, making any direct interaction a primal threat driven by her survival instinct. |
The Apprehension of Flight
As a mouse, Mrs. Frisby's natural existence is rooted firmly on the ground. Being carried by a bird, even a kind one like Jeremy, involves an unnerving sense of vulnerability. This fear stems from several factors:
- Loss of Control: She would be entirely dependent on Jeremy, lacking the ability to navigate or land herself, which is instinctively unsettling for a creature whose survival relies on swift, independent movement.
- Unnatural Environment: The air is not her natural domain. The experience of being airborne is disorienting and terrifying, far removed from the familiar safety of burrows and undergrowth.
- Height and Speed: The sheer height and speed of aerial travel could induce intense vertigo and anxiety for a creature accustomed to moving close to the ground, where dangers are more predictable.
The Primal Terror of the Owl
More acutely, Jeremy's advice often involves interactions with the Great Owl, a powerful and wise creature, but also a formidable predator of mice and other small rodents. This fear is deeply ingrained and primal:
- Predator-Prey Instinct: Owls are natural hunters, and mice are their primary prey. Mrs. Frisby's fear is a fundamental survival instinct, a recognition of the inherent danger the owl represents to her and her family.
- Vulnerability: Approaching a creature that preys on her kind, regardless of its wisdom or supposed benevolence, puts her in an extremely vulnerable position. Her natural instinct is to avoid such a formidable threat at all costs.
These combined fears highlight Mrs. Frisby's cautious and protective nature, driving her decisions throughout her challenging journey. Understanding her fears provides crucial insight into the extraordinary courage she ultimately demonstrates by overcoming them for the sake of her family. For more details on the characters and their roles in the story, you can explore resources like the Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH book page on Goodreads.