Final answer:
The 'exaggerated respect' for Macavity in T. S. Eliot's poem stems from his cleverness and elusiveness despite being associated with numerous crimes. Macavity's criminal mastermind persona and his knack for always being 'not there' when the crimes are investigated add intrigue and a light-hearted tone to the poem.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question pertains to the poem 'Macavity: The Mystery Cat' by T. S. Eliot, where Macavity is a criminal mastermind and a notorious but charismatic cat. The poem assigns numerous criminal acts to Macavity, thus, creating an air of mystery and fear around him.
However, the 'exaggerated respect' associated with Macavity is arguably due to his cleverness and elusiveness. Despite committing numerous crimes, he always manages to deceive the authorities, leading them to respect his cunning. He is personified as a master criminal who is always 'not there' when the crime scene is investigated.
It's the surrealistic portrayal of his character and the 'exaggerated respect' that make the poem intriguing and Macavity a memorable literary character. These aspects provide the poem with a light-hearted tone as opposed to promoting crime.
Learn more about Macavity in poetry