Papa Mousekewitz

Papa Mousekewitz is a friendly, kind father and the patriarch of the Mousekewitz family who enjoys telling his children old folk tales and legends, and playing the violin. The story he tells Fievel and Tanya at the beginning of An American Tail about the Giant Mouse of Minsk plays a bigger role near the end of the film. According to his account in the song 'There Are No Cats In America' he was orphaned at a young age due to a cat attack. He made money in Russia building violins, however once in America he found that this simply wasn't enough to support the family. He became a tailor when he first arrived in America, as evidenced by examining the small purse the Mousekewitz family called home when they first moved to New York, with "Mousekewitz Tailor" above the entrance. In the third film he works at a cheese factory, his spirit broken by the harsh working conditions, and in Fievel Goes West the main reason he chooses to leave New York is because he is so poor he can't afford any birthday presents for Fievel. He finally lived out his dream in Green River by running his own music instrument shop, Mousekewitz Fine Violins. He was particularly hard hit by Fievel's disappearance in the first film, coming to the conclusion that Fievel had drowned. He would hear none of it whenever Tanya begged him not to give up hope because she felt Fievel was alive somewhere. However, he is overjoyed when he is the first to be reunited with Fievel at the end of the movie at the Orphan alley. He was always a strong believer in the American dream, and he shows many of the same adventurous, optimistic and aspirational ways of thinking that Fievel and Tanya develop. So yes, this is where they get it from. And occasionally, he is taught to be more optimistic by his children, particularly in the third film. After being overworked and having all hopes and his confidence shattered, Fievel reminds his father of the reason they came to America and Papa sees his son as his inspiration. Later in the film, Papa regains his confidence and, with help from Tiger, saves Dr. Dithering from being killed during a trial for cooperating with the Indian mice. He then talks sense into the angry mob at the trial, making them realize that their enemy never was the Indians, but the factory owners. At the end of the movie, he is chosen to be the negotiator with the factory owners, who are now forced to give the citizens what they want otherwise go broke.