The Cat Who...
My wife suggested "The Cat Who..." series by Lilian Jackson Braun
would make a good study in mind, body, and spirit symbolism. When I
decided to take a look, she suggested I read The Cat Who Played Post Office,
which I recently did, and she was right. While this book was not very
good for examining Yum Yum's character, the characteristics written into
Qwilleran and Koko are clear. Yum Yum's characteristics are clearer in
other books in the series.
Yum yum plays a minor role in The Cat Who Played Post Office, and according to other sites I found about the series, does not play a big role in solving many of the mysteries Qwill and Koko face. Even so, she does play a big role in the series.
Yum Yum is more affectionate than Koko and has outstanding dexterity. She opens drawers, operates switches, and performs a variety of such manual labor tasks. Her ability to steal objects earned her the name, "Yum Yum the Paw."
In The Cat Who Played Post Office, Qwill and the cats move into a mansion Qwill has inherited and Yum Yum claims the solarium as her territory. The solarium has a "small forest of rubber plants, cushioned wicker chairs, and panoramic view of birdlife" - everything a cat body character would need to enjoy life.
In The Cat Who Played Post Office, Koko is the one who brings all the clues to Qwill's attention. Even when it looks like he is just chasing a fly, he leads Qwill to a diary that is important in solving the mystery.
Koko even leads Qwill through the mystery by playing tunes on the piano. "Daisy, Daisy," for example, leads Qwill to think about Daisy Mull, the young girl whose murder has been covered up. He even plays "How Dry I Am" to let Qwill know he is thirsty after the case has been solved.
Koko is instrumental in capturing the murderer. He wakes Qwill up before the murderer gets to the house and moves the litter box into place so the murder trips over it, leading to his capture.
Qwill is a reporter who retired upon inheriting a fortune, including a mansion in Pickax City. He recognizes Koko's clues as important, but does not seem to put them together as quickly as Koko does. He realizes something is important when he has a feeling in his moustache. When Koko brings him a letter that will ultimately explain the case, his moustache "sprang to attention" before he opened the letter.
Koko works with facts and clues, but Qwilleran works with hunches. At one point in the story, Qwill believes someone is out to kill him for his inheritance. In explaining the red herring, Qwill says, "That's what happens when I jump to my own conclusions instead of getting my signals from Koko."
The Body Character: Yum Yum
Yum yum plays a minor role in The Cat Who Played Post Office, and according to other sites I found about the series, does not play a big role in solving many of the mysteries Qwill and Koko face. Even so, she does play a big role in the series.
Yum Yum is more affectionate than Koko and has outstanding dexterity. She opens drawers, operates switches, and performs a variety of such manual labor tasks. Her ability to steal objects earned her the name, "Yum Yum the Paw."
In The Cat Who Played Post Office, Qwill and the cats move into a mansion Qwill has inherited and Yum Yum claims the solarium as her territory. The solarium has a "small forest of rubber plants, cushioned wicker chairs, and panoramic view of birdlife" - everything a cat body character would need to enjoy life.
The Mind Character: Koko
In The Cat Who Played Post Office, Koko is the one who brings all the clues to Qwill's attention. Even when it looks like he is just chasing a fly, he leads Qwill to a diary that is important in solving the mystery.
Koko even leads Qwill through the mystery by playing tunes on the piano. "Daisy, Daisy," for example, leads Qwill to think about Daisy Mull, the young girl whose murder has been covered up. He even plays "How Dry I Am" to let Qwill know he is thirsty after the case has been solved.
Koko is instrumental in capturing the murderer. He wakes Qwill up before the murderer gets to the house and moves the litter box into place so the murder trips over it, leading to his capture.
The Spirit Character: Jim Qwilleran
Qwill is a reporter who retired upon inheriting a fortune, including a mansion in Pickax City. He recognizes Koko's clues as important, but does not seem to put them together as quickly as Koko does. He realizes something is important when he has a feeling in his moustache. When Koko brings him a letter that will ultimately explain the case, his moustache "sprang to attention" before he opened the letter.
Koko works with facts and clues, but Qwilleran works with hunches. At one point in the story, Qwill believes someone is out to kill him for his inheritance. In explaining the red herring, Qwill says, "That's what happens when I jump to my own conclusions instead of getting my signals from Koko."
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