Happy birthday Jemima Puddle-Duck! She is 100 this year and although she has yet to lay a golden egg, there is a centenary edition of the book out to celebrate. Jemima has the honour of being the second most popular Beatrix Potter character (Peter Rabbit rules supreme). When I first learnt this, I felt indignant. Wasn't Peter a rash, immature rabbit? And wasn't Jemima a fine, independent, grown-up bird? I'd vote Puddle-Duck - at least I thought I would. I decided to refresh my memory.
When Jemima's eggs disappear, she sets forth in her blue poke bonnet and pink shawl to pastures new. So far, so intrepid. Jemima seems in charge of her reproductive destiny. And she selects a nice spot for egg-laying, beside tall foxgloves - except that she is distracted by an 'elegantly dressed gentleman'. We can see he is no gentleman. We can see the tips of his foxy ears poking up behind his newspaper. At this point Jemima becomes less of a role model and more of a worry. She even seems to fancy the fox, judging him 'mighty civil and handsome'. Potter gives us a superb portrait of a confidence trickster and his victim.
Jemima isn't much of a heroine: neurotic, dim, a poor layer. But I still prefer her to Peter. And her enduring popularity proves emphatically the British always favour the underduck.
