☝️ Key Points
- Rum Tum Tugger is an unpredictable and indecisive character who always wants the opposite of what is offered to him.
- There is no point in fighting against Rum Tum Tugger's whims or trying to change his mind.
- Rum Tum Tugger is described as a 'terrible bore' who constantly changes his mind about whether he wants to be inside or outside and always desires the opposite of what he has.
- Despite his lack of interest in cuddling, he loves being the center of attention and causing chaos.
- The repeated statement 'The Rum Tum Tugger is a curious cat' emphasizes his individuality and strangeness.
Interpretation
The song "The Rum Tum Tugger" from the musical "Cats" describes a very fickle and unpredictable character, Rum Tum Tugger. The lyrics emphasize his indecisiveness and his tendency to always want the opposite of what is offered to him.
For example, if a pheasant is offered to him, he prefers a partridge. If he is put in a house, he would rather be in an apartment, and vice versa. The same goes for his preferences in hunting, where he prefers a mouse to a rat and vice versa.
It is stressed that it is pointless to fight against his whims or try to change his mind. "And there's no doing anything about it", meaning that "And there's nothing you can do about it".
Rum Tum Tugger is also described as a "terrible bore" because he is always on the wrong side of every door and always wants the opposite of what he has. He is a cat who loves freedom and independence to make his own decisions.
Finally, the lyrics show that while Rum Tum Tugger is not a fan of cuddling, he loves being the center of attention and causing a little chaos. The repeated statement that "The Rum Tum Tugger is a curious cat", underscores that he is an individual and unusual character.