Dog Bites Back in Struwwelpeter’s Cruel Frederick
Frederick is a bit of a psychopath, and if current research is correct, has one of the markings of a future serial killer. He is a “cruel, wicked boy” who likes to torture animals. Frederick tears wings off flies, kills birds, and threw a kitten down a flight of stairs. He also “whipped his Mary,” whether his sister, mother, or nurse isn’t clear, but he is a terrible child.
Frederick turned his attention to Tray the dog, whipping and kicking the pup. However, Tray bit back hard enough to draw blood. While sore Frederick had to recover in bed, Tray got to sit in the boy’s chair and eat his dinner. The lesson for young children? Cruelty to animals and people may come back to (literally) bite. It is a horrifying tale of animal and interpersonal cruelty, but Frederick learned a bloody lesson.
