On the Morality of Squirrels

Then Twinkleberry and the other little squirrels each made a low bow, and said politely—
"Old Mr. Brown, will you favour us with permission to gather nuts upon your island?"
But Nutkin was excessively impertinent in his manners. He bobbed up and down like a little red cherry, singing—
"Riddle me, riddle me, rot-tot-tote!
A little wee man, in a red red coat!
A staff in his hand, and a stone in his throat;
If you'll tell me this riddle, I'll give you a groat."

from The Tale of Squirrel Nutkin, by Beatrix Potter


The squirrels gather nuts for food, and they bring food (dead mice, moles, and minnows among other things) as offerings to Old Brown. The squirrels need the nuts in Old Brown's domain but are in danger of being eaten by him. They bring the old owl foodstuffs to deflect his attention from their presence as potential meals. Issues of class structure and hierarchy play out in Potter's work and Squirrel Nutkin is not exempt: the squirrels lay their offerings at Old Brown's feet and address him with formal politeness to secure his permission to gather nuts. They thus appear as "obedient, obsequious servants of a ruler".

from The Tale of Squirrel Nutkin, Wikipedia 


Nutkin is the child who goes too far, and who, thrillingly, is not burdened by the natural timidity that keeps others obedient...He suggests that creativity and play are as worthwhile as duty and conformity.

from Squirrel Nutkin: Anarchy for Under Fives, by Josephine Gardiner


Not that Nutkin is Nietzschean, but it may be the case, as Fahey suggests, that one must learn to read Nutkin before one can hope to read Nietzsche. The Tale of Squirrel Nutkin is a tale about the importance of order, the pleasure of disorder, and the need to offset the spirit of Pan with the spirit of Demeter...

from Squirrel Nutkin and the Art of Mischief, by Sean Fitzpatrick 


Morality: 
While the others are very polite and conscientious, Nutkin is a very bad-mannered little squirrel. He nearly gets eaten for his sauciness, but escapes to be a wiser squirrel in the end.

Spiritual Content: 
None.

from The Tale of Squirrel Nutkin, Squeaky Clean Reviews