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Nevin Nollop
Tassie’s mother, Ella’s aunt, and Mittie’s sister. Mittie is a second-grade math teacher and she initially finds it very difficult to adapt to the Council’s ban on using any of the letters that fall from Nevin Nollop’s commemorative statue. After the letter “Z” is prohibited, Mittie has a first slip-up when she uses the word “dozen” in class, and a student named Timmy tells his parents, Georgeanne and Nash, who then report Mittie to the L.E.B. Mittie gains a second violation, also at the hands of Georgeanne, when Georgeanne witnesses Mittie call a woman named Xenia by her first name—before Mittie realizes that Xenia actually spells her name with a “Z.” Mittie is outraged at Georgeanne’s actions, particularly as she had never done anything to hurt Georgeanne. Mittie becomes depressed and she is forced to resign her teaching post after “D” is banned because she does not know how to teach without the word “and.” Mittie finds some solace in beginning a relationship with Rory Cummels, but that comfort quickly goes away when Rory is banished from the island. However, Mittie proves the importance of solidarity and support among the Nollopians when Georgeanne asks for Mitie’s help in proving that her son Timmy is still seven (and therefore not subject to the Council’s statutes). Despite Georgeanne’s previous betrayals, Mittie agrees to try to help her—though she fails in her efforts. Mittie eventually escapes to the United States with Tassie following Tassie’s arrest and subsequent escape from prison.
Mittie Purcy Quotes in Ella Minnow Pea
The Ella Minnow Pea quotes below are all either spoken by Mittie Purcy or refer to Mittie Purcy. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
).
Chapter 2
Quotes
Today The Tribune published the names of fifty-eight of the sixty men, women, and children charged this week with first offense. (Two names were unpublishable due to the presence of a particular letter within.) All were speakers of banned words—words overheard upon the lanes, in schoolyards and church pews, and on the common greens. Neighbor turning in neighbor, perpetuating old grudges and grievances with this new weapon unleashed upon us by the High Island Council.
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Chapter 4
Quotes
When I bake, I do not have to speak. When I bake, I do not have to make sense of anything except the ingredients summoned by memory that I have laid out in front of me. Sometimes the children offer to help, but I do not accept. This is something best done alone. Something I do well. One of the few things I can actually do.
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Chapter 6
Quotes
The prospect of actually being able to control the outcome of this ghastly assault on our collective spirit, let alone our very humanity, by turning this offensive upon its cephalus, has sent some among our subterra movement to heights of unencompassable ecstasy.
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Chapter 7
Quotes
The Council representative—his voice: even, treacly polite—gave his response again, with slight elaboration: “Mr. Cummels, it is the Council’s earnest conviction that there is no other Supreme Being but Almighty Nollop. None whatsoever. Praise Nollop. Nollop eternal.”
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Chapter 9
Quotes
I value, nonetheless, your going to the learny-house to help my son. Little Timmy values it as well.
He is gone now. Timmy. This morning. With Nash, my spouse. I must remain. I must remain, as I am without violation.
Please exonerate me. In your heart. I am so sorry that I was the one to report your violations. I’m so sorry that I was to learn what is truly important in our lives too, too late.
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Mittie Purcy Quotes in Ella Minnow Pea
The Ella Minnow Pea quotes below are all either spoken by Mittie Purcy or refer to Mittie Purcy. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
).
Chapter 2
Quotes
Today The Tribune published the names of fifty-eight of the sixty men, women, and children charged this week with first offense. (Two names were unpublishable due to the presence of a particular letter within.) All were speakers of banned words—words overheard upon the lanes, in schoolyards and church pews, and on the common greens. Neighbor turning in neighbor, perpetuating old grudges and grievances with this new weapon unleashed upon us by the High Island Council.
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Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 4
Quotes
When I bake, I do not have to speak. When I bake, I do not have to make sense of anything except the ingredients summoned by memory that I have laid out in front of me. Sometimes the children offer to help, but I do not accept. This is something best done alone. Something I do well. One of the few things I can actually do.
Related Characters:
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Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 6
Quotes
The prospect of actually being able to control the outcome of this ghastly assault on our collective spirit, let alone our very humanity, by turning this offensive upon its cephalus, has sent some among our subterra movement to heights of unencompassable ecstasy.
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Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 7
Quotes
The Council representative—his voice: even, treacly polite—gave his response again, with slight elaboration: “Mr. Cummels, it is the Council’s earnest conviction that there is no other Supreme Being but Almighty Nollop. None whatsoever. Praise Nollop. Nollop eternal.”
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Chapter 9
Quotes
I value, nonetheless, your going to the learny-house to help my son. Little Timmy values it as well.
He is gone now. Timmy. This morning. With Nash, my spouse. I must remain. I must remain, as I am without violation.
Please exonerate me. In your heart. I am so sorry that I was the one to report your violations. I’m so sorry that I was to learn what is truly important in our lives too, too late.
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