Fairyworld

Category: fairy tales

  • Frog King – The Grimms’ Fairy Tale – Summary

    Frog King – The Grimms’ Fairy Tale – Summary

    The Princess and the Frog from Arranged Marriages to Kissing Frogs

    Over numerous editions, the classic fairy tale The Frog King was adapted to reflect changing societal norms and the writers’ beliefs.

    The Brothers Grimm wrote more than two hundred fairy tales, and about a dozen of them became classics, known all over the world. The Frog King, also known as The Frog Prince, is one of them. They considered it particularly important because they placed it at the top of their collection, where it remained in all seven editions published during their lifetime.

    the-princess-from-the-frog-king-illustration-by-blanche-fisher-wright

    The Princess from The Frog King plays with the golden ball, ilustration by Blanche Fisher Wright

    This story has also entered popular culture, thanks to its well-known quote about kissing frogs to find a prince. With a history spanning over five hundred years and many variations, it provides us with valuable material for studying important changes in society. Our focus will be on the three main characters and the story’s central theme of the marriage between the princess and the frog.

    Brief Summary

    The princess lost a golden ball, and the frog helped her in exchange for her word. She promised to be his friend only to get her toy back and then ran away. However, her father insisted that she keep her promise, which ultimately resulted in the frog transforming into a handsome prince.

    There are many ways to interpret this tale, and you are welcome to explore them through further readings at the end of the article. We will only investigate the powers and conflicts of the characters involved in relation to the marriage here.

    paul-meyerheim-illustration-of-the-frog-king

    The Princess and the frog makes a deal, illustration by Paul Meyerheim

    The Princess

    She is young and beautiful. (Even the sun admires her.) Her immaturity is shown on several occasions. It looks like playing is all she does in her life. Losing a ball is not a sign of responsibility either. Keeping her word? No, thanks! Even when her father gave clear directions, she still tries to avoid the responsibility. The grand finale is the scene in her bedroom. She drops the annoying frog against the wall so hard it transforms!

    the-frog-prince-bernhard-hasler
    bernhard-hasler-the-frog-prince

    While the princess is desirable as a possible wife from the physical point of view, she is incompetent and obviously needs guidance. This is provided by the highest authority – her father.

    The Frog

    He is the ultimate suitor. When the frog notices her problem, he is willing to help but only if she promises to start a relationship with him. Being ugly, even repulsive, he doesn’t care about his physical appearance. All his actions are directed in one way only: he wants to get in her bed. He uses everything he can to achieve his goal. If this is not enough, he capitalizes on her father’s authority. Her feelings are never his slightest concern.

    franziska-schenkel-the-princess-and-the-frog

    It is only after his transformation into a prince that we discover he was under the spell of a witch. None of the dozens of known variations of the story explains why it happened. Perhaps every man is a frog by default until he finds a woman willing to help him become a true human?

    The King

    It’s hard to read anything from Carl Jung without immediately connecting a king with a figure of the father, and we all know what the father’s role is: to protect and guide his offspring. He does exactly that in The Frog King. Although he is not violent, his authority is indisputable. His word is a command.

    the-frog-king-characters-by-walter-crane

    The princess is a teenager. Like every teenager, she tests the boundaries. Father’s job is to keep her in the safety zone until she settles up with another competent person: her husband. Please note: there is no mother in this fairy tale.

    Apperance

    One of the most obvious messages in The Frog Prince is not to judge others by appearance. The same is true in The Beauty and the Beast. But if we stay at this statement, we would be hypocritical. In both cases, the brides’ beauty is described in superlatives. After the grooms’ transformations, we are also told that they are handsome. Appearance matters in most fairy tales, as is most clearly demonstrated in The Puss in Boots.

    arthur-rackham-princess-and-frog

    Marriage

    The fairy tale of the princess and the frog is very stereotypical. It’s all about male dominance and female submission, but it actually faithfully reflects the situation in society. Everyone has to play the role they were born into. The frog has to conquer her. She plays hard to get. Her father leads their actions to the successful ending.

    From a biological perspective, success is defined as procreation. Marriage is not necessary for that, and in early versions young couples actually sleep in bed before the marriage is even mentioned. But in their later versions, marriage becomes more important. That’s why the Brothers Grimm systematically removed all references to extramarital activities from their later editions of fairy tales. They even deleted the mere mention of the bed!

    frog-prince-by-wanda-gag

    Many old fairy tales follow the same story pattern. He has to prove his abilities before he ‘earns’ her. We can easily find hundreds of examples of the same behaviour in the animal kingdom as well. While it looks like she is considered only as a sort of trophy, biology never cared about emancipation. The male should carry on the best possible genes (fast, strong, courageous), so he has to be tested.

    Children are the reward for all his risks. While the mother always knows her children really carry her genes, the male never knows, so he is trying to be as sure as possible. This is the reason why brides in fairy tales are always very young and isolated from the rest of society. This is the reason why they are passed directly from fathers to husbands.

    anne-anderson-the-frog-prince

    Originals and improvements

    The numerous rewritings by the Brothers Grimm are probably what make this particular fairy tale stand out from the crowd. Not only were they collectors of old tales and guardians of folklore, but they were also active chroniclers of their time. They lived in the 19th century when new states were formed, traditional centres of power vanished, and many time-tested patterns were lost.

    One of the biggest changes was a breakdown of the traditional family as a basic social unit. Thanks to many societal changes, young people suddenly gained a lot of freedom, and with freedom comes risk. We could also say it is a synonym for responsibility. The Brothers Grimm were probably aware of the danger posed by the thousands of marriages based on impulse rather than careful consideration.

    anne-anderson-illustration-princess-and-the-frog

    This is where the king is irreplaceable. He not only shows authority, but he also upholds traditional values and guides young people who are passionate about what they do. Brothers Grimm believed traditional marriage was the best possible environment for raising children (they had plenty of opportunities to see how hard a life can be for a child without one or both parents; they lost their father at an early age, too), and in traditional marriage, the love of two young people wasn’t enough.

    Love is only one part of the winning equation. In fairy tales, fathers’ opinions are important too. Were they conservatives? Yes, of course. Did they try to preserve the status quo in society? Not really. It’s better to say that they wanted to maintain some order amidst chaotic changes with unpredictable results.

    Revolution

    We can look at fairy tales from a different perspective as well. ‘Living happily ever after’ is a cliché, but for a young audience it probably has a much better (and comforting) effect than ‘they lived until they divorced’. While it may seem monotonous to adhere to her father’s directives, intergenerational strife is a recurring theme in fairy tales. Yet, in most cases, the young characters gain independence in the end.

    heinrich-lefler-illustration-the-princess-and-the-frog

    This is probably the most important message of fairy tales. Kids grow up. They make mistakes, but in the end they become responsible citizens. As in the story of the Frog King, they could benefit from the wisdom of the older generation; they can succeed despite the mistakes of their parents (like in The Sleeping Beauty), or they can even find happiness thanks to the mistakes of their parents (like in The Beauty and the Beast).

    And the most subversive message? Despite all the archetypes, everything is possible!

    Do you want more?

    If you would like to learn more about The Frog King (The Frog Prince), you can check the article, which deals with frog symbolysm, found in this and other fairy tales and fables!

  • Cinderella – Themes of the Story

    Cinderella – Themes of the Story

    The story of Cinderella offers a wide array of literary themes and motifs. We will present only a fraction of the possibilities.

    Cinderella is probably the most popular fairy tale in the world. It is known in more than one thousand documented versions and variations. (We covered the impressive Cinderella’s history in a separate article.) One of the reasons for its success is probably the simplicity of the plot with the riches-to-rags-to-riches scheme. Another important reason is the high number of themes and motifs. Many of them are so universal that almost anybody could identify with the title character and her situation.

    These themes are what make Cinderella a classic. We will present them with examples and draw comparisons with other well-known fairy tales. Then, we will provide a few ways to apply the story’s lessons to real-life situations.

    Artwork by Moritz von Schwind

    Absent Father

    Absent father is one of the most common themes in literature, especially in fairy tales. The reason is simple. Many fathers are not there for their kids when they need them. Think about Red Riding Hood, Goose Girl, Briar Rose, and many others. The reasons for the absence (physical, emotional, intellectual, …) are so many we could write a series of books. The story of Cinderella uses the absence of her father, who seemingly remarries just to make her life harder, to initiate a major change. It’s time to grow up. Growing up means taking responsibility. Break some eggs to make an omelet. When Cinderella’s father can no longer protect her, change is inevitable. In her case, things turn worse before they can improve.

    Illustration by Evelyn Stuart Hardy and painting by Edward Burne-Jones

    The Plot

    There are two basic plots in all stories in the world: rags-to-riches (an example is Puss in Boots, with the main character who starts at the bottom and climbs up) and riches-to-rags-to-riches (an example is Cinderella, where the main character starts in a good position, loses it, and then climbs even higher). We can argue that rags-to-riches is just a variation of riches-to-rags-to-riches with a later start of narration, when the main character is already down.

    Climbing up the social ladder / Marrying Up

    Cinderella is not born in the worst possible conditions. Depending on the version, she can be perceived even as a princess. Yet her status degrades fast when her mother dies, and her father remarries a woman who already has two daughters. Cinderella falls to the bottom of the social ladder when she starts working as a maid and sleeping at the hearth. These changes eventually force her to look for an alternative, which, in her case, shows in the form of the ball at the castle and the possibility of marrying the prince.

    Marrying up is a popular theme in fairy tales. Giambattista Basile most likely created it as a way to entertain the nobility by presenting them with the completely unimaginable. However, the audience perceived it differently, especially when fairy tales were introduced to all social classes.

    Illustrations by William Henry Margetson and Richard Andre


    Siblings Rivalry

    Everyone with a brother or sister can identify with the rivalry that often arises between siblings. Kids demand attention from their parents. Some parents deal with their competitive kids better or worse, but none of them is perfect. In some cases, some children will inevitably be favored over others, which will make some feel unjustly treated. Although Cinderella is an extreme example, everyone can relate to her in some way. Even people without siblings experience similar injustices, which makes Cinderella so relatable to the wide audience.

    The story of Cinderella offers a solution: patience, waiting for the opportunity, and leaving the toxic home environment to find a better place to live where she can realize her potential.

    Illustrations by Henri Thiriet and Walter Crane

    Broken Promise

    The importance of a given word (after all, the Grimm Brothers were educated as lawyers) is often used as a theme in fairy tales, especially since they became considered educational material for children. In real life, the given word is supported by contracts, lawyers, and judges. Fairy tales and other literature provide a foundation for moral values accepted by society.

    When Cinderella solves an impossible task, but her stepmother still doesn’t let her leave home for the ball, we clearly see that the girl shall find an alternative way of solving her situation. The decision to participate in the ball is understandable and justified.

    Postcard by Jenny Nystrom and illustration by Daan Hoeksema

    Leaving Home

    Leaving home is very likely the most often-used theme in fairy tales. Cinderella’s position is very bad. We don’t see any way to improve it within the existing parameters. Leaving home, taking risks, and finding new friends are obvious choices. When her wish to leave the house at least for the ball is denied, she is forced to break the rules, disobey her stepmother’s orders, and go anyway.

    Her decision to participate in the dance is a decision to grow up. Essentially, every classic fairy tale is about growing up, and Cinderella is a perfect example.

    Illustrations by Arthur Rackham and Henri Thiriet

    Fairy Helper

    Humans are social beings. Even Robinson Crusoe had company. Cinderella is no exception. She is alone and abused in her own home, where she doesn’t have a single ally. Kindness brings her helpers in the form of birds, but this is not enough. Then the fairy godmother (French version) or a magical tree (German version) brings her some valuable support. A splendid dress and a luxurious carriage will serve as necessary tools to enter the ball. There, she excels and wins the main prize – a marriage with a prince.

    Illustrations by Arthur Rackham and Edmund Dulac

    We shall note that Cinderella doesn’t achieve her breakthrough alone. She had help. She will continue to have at least one ally – the prince. Even the prince has to earn his status. As a married man, he can become a king. He has to disclose her identity. This is not an easy task. He only had a lost slipper and has to try it on numerous girls before he finds the right one.

    Wall Painting by Paul Hey

    Revenge

    Cinderella is not a typical revenge tale. Although kindness is considered the sweetest revenge and success is considered the best revenge, different authors offered different solutions to her problems with her siblings. The most popular versions are almost diametrical. French Cinderella (Cendrillon) is forgiving, and she even finds appropriate husbands of noble origins for her wicked stepsisters. German Cinderella (Aschenputtel) ends with cruel punishment – both stepsisters end with mutilated feet and without eyes.

    Happy End

    Not all fairy tales end with happily ever after, but the majority of the most popular ones do. Her ending, in which she leaves all her bad experiences behind to start a new life with a prince as the personification of an ideal partner, has inspired generations of people on the verge of adolescence and adulthood. Two traditions and rituals are especially closely related to Cinderella. This is evident in the popularity of Cinderella themes for birthdays, especially Quinceaneras, and weddings.

    Illustrations by Sarah Noble Ives and Paul Hey

    Conclusion

    Cinderella is not so globally accepted for nothing. Its seemingly simple storyline addresses universal themes each of us can identify with. Everyone will feel like Cinderella at some point in their life. Knowing her story from an early age can be crucial to one’s perception of life.

    Yes, life is not fair. However, it’s up to us whether we see ourselves as victims or underdogs determined to win. If you’ve never read Cinderella to your children, do so as soon as it’s appropriate. If you already told it, do that again.

    Enjoy and share!

  • The History of Cinderella

    Cinderella – A Fairy Tale About the First Feminist?

    Cinderella is, according to numerous surveys, the most popular fairy tale in the world. There are officially hundreds of documented and classified versions, starting with a 3,000-year-old story about Rhodopis (Greek), a 1,200-year-old story about Ye Xian (Chinese), and a 500-year-old story about Cenerentola (Italian). Nevertheless, most people are familiar with Cendrillon, a French variation by Charles Perrault from the end of the 17th century, and Aschenputtel, a German variation by the Brothers Grimm from the beginning of the 19th century. Their differences are small, but they reveal how Cinderella reflects changing ideas about women and society.

    Aschenputtel by Ernst Erwin Oehme

    The secret of her success

    Cinderella’s story inspired many picture books, movies, theater plays, and computer games.

    While it is known in hundreds and hundreds of variants, from the best-known, with a carriage made of pumpkin and a pair of glass slippers, to bloody versions where Cinderella killed her stepmother and got away with it, they all share an important element: injustice.

    With such a wide spectrum of plots, we can’t begin any comparison without a few necessary simplifications.

    Illustration by Wilhelm Schaefer

    The Case of Cendrillon, Aschenputtel, and Cinderella: How do fairy tales reflect the changing role of women in society?

    If we want to find the truth behind the success of the story of Cinderella, we have to start somewhere. Why not with two of the most popular literary versions?

    One was written by Charles Perrault in 1696, and the other by the Brothers Grimm in 1812. They are both based on La gatta Cenerentola by Giambattista Basile from 1634 and are similar, but when we dig into the details, we’ll find several surprising facts about Cinderella’s character, her role in our culture, and – probably most importantly – about our society.

    The main plot (summary) of Cinderella

    She lives with her stepmother and two stepsisters, and they treat her as a servant. When an opportunity shows in the form of a ball at the castle, Cinderella’s stepsisters can go, but she is not allowed to. With some magic help, she transforms into a noble lady of astonishing beauty, goes to dance, and charms the prince.

    Aschenputtel by Herman Vogel, Aschenbrodel by Carl Offterdinger, Cendrillon by Frederic Theodore Lix

    He wants to learn more about her, but she escapes and loses a slipper, which ultimately helps him recognize his future wife in her humble position by the hearth, full of ashes.

    Basic differences

    We’ll look at Cendrillon (or Little Glass Slipper) by Charles Perrault and Aschenputtel by Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm.

    Illustration by Oliver Herford

    Charles Perrault:

    • We don’t know what happened to Cinderella’s mother.
    • We don’t know how her stepsisters look, but Perrault wrote that Cinderella looks a hundred times better, so they were probably not very attractive.
    • Cinderella doesn’t express a wish to go to the ball until the ball has already started.
    • When her stepsisters leave the house, a fairy godmother shows up and performs all the known tricks with a pumpkin, rodents, and lizards.
    • The fairy changed her rags into beautiful clothes.
    • She gave her a pair of glass slippers.
    • She goes to the castle two evenings in a row.
    • After the second ball, Cinderella loses one of her slippers.
    • When the prince announces he’ll marry the girl who can put the slipper on, Cinderella’s stepsisters unsuccessfully try to squeeze a foot into a slipper. After that, she is also offered a trial.
    • Sisters apologize to Cinderella for their improper behavior; she forgives them, marries a prince, and finds two grooms for the stepsisters as well.

    Illustrations by Blanche Fisher Wright Laite (left), Anne Anderson (middle), and Hugo von Hofsten (right)

    The main distinctive elements are: fairy godmother, the glass slippers, and a happy ending.

    Illustration by Elenor Plaisted Abbott

    Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm

    • The story starts with her mother dying. Mother instructs her to plant a tree after her death and promises she will help her daughter even after death. (The version with gifts brought from father’s journey and sprig being rubbed against his hat was added later from Beauty and the Beast and is not originally by the Grimms’.)
    • When the father remarries, we are informed that both stepdaughters are beautiful but have nasty characters.
    • Cinderella mourns her mother under a tree, grown from a branch brought by her father, on her mother’s grave.
    • Stepmother and her two daughters are really mean to Cinderella (they call her Aschenputtel). They make fun of her, they take her clothes, and they give her meaningless tasks related to ash.
    • When the king announces the ball, Cinderella clearly says she wants to go too, but she can’t because she has no proper dress (no sorting of the peas from ashes in exchange for permission, sorry).
    • When her stepsisters leave, pigeons come and offer her help.
    • She gets a dress and shoes (golden) from the tree growing on her mother’s grave. This tree was watered by Cinderella’s tears.
    • She goes to the castle three evenings in a row, and she mocks her stepsisters when they return from the dance.
    • Prince decides to cover the stairs with a pitch on the third evening to prevent her escape, and she loses one of her shoes.
    • Search with a shoe becomes a bloody event when the first sister cuts the heel and the second the toe so the slipper would fit on.
    • Birds told the truth to the prince both times.
    • Prince finally finds the real owner.
    • When they marry, birds attack the stepsisters and peck their eyes (this punishment wasn’t in the first edition, but was added to the second and all later editions).

    Illustrations by Emil Lohse (left), Caroline Klauhold (middle), and Edward Henry Wehnert (right)

    The main distinctive elements are the magical tree, the golden slippers, and revenge at the end.

    Which variation of the story about Cinderella is better?

    Brothers Grimm, without doubt, wrote a better story.

    The motifs of all characters are much better explained, the main character is active, she fights for her right to go to the ball, and there is logic behind her helpers.

    The prince is quite active, too, and is making a concerted effort to win her over.

    The Brothers Grimm spent a great deal of time rewriting their fairy tales, which began as an idea to collect traditional German folktales. Aschenputtel was no exception. The part with the pigeons pecking the eyes of the evil stepsisters was one of their improvements according to their sense of justice.

    This gory detail was skipped in many versions after their death and is probably one of the reasons why the variation by the brothers Grimm never defeated Perrault’s in popularity, despite the fact that his other fairy tales, like Sleeping Beauty in the Woods, lost popularity contests against The Briar Rose, Little Thumb against Hans and Gretel, and Little Red Riding Hood against The Red Cap.

    Why is Cendrillon by Perrault more appealing to the audience? She is nice and beautiful, but she is also a perfect example of the passive damsel-in-distress stereotype that is so prevalent in fairy tales that some people try to remove them from library shelves.

    Why not Aschenputtel, who embodies hard work and the Calvinist values of the Brothers Grimm? Not only is she nice, beautiful, and persistent, but she also fights for her rights and has a sense of humor.

    Illustrations by Hanns Anker

    Position of women in society in the 17th and 19th centuries

    Charles Perrault was a smart guy who, of course, noticed changes in the French court during the reign of Louis XIV. While all important positions in the state were still reserved for men, the rising influence of the fair sex was obvious. Women of noble origin had more and more money. Many were well-educated and became quite powerful. They organized parties and invited whomever they wanted. Ladies, like Madame d’Aulnoy, were actually quite influential.

    If someone was skipped from the invitation list, their social standing suffered. Perrault, as a typical guy who climbed the ladder in civil services, didn’t like the idea of being dependent on the fads and mercy of the ladies. His fairy tales give a clear message.

    Illustrations by Warwick Goble, Gustave Doré, and Thomas Edward Donnison

    A girl should be nice and pretty, but all important decisions should be made by men. His Cinderella is pushed around because she doesn’t have free will. Although she became a princess, it is clear she only changed one passive position for another.

    Brothers Grimm were smart as well. Changes in their time were different. Small countries joined together to form larger states with centralized governments. While the nobility remained untouchable in some areas of society, the real power was shifting to those with money.

    A new class of bourgeoisie emerged, and women (some of them, at least) began earning significant incomes. The situation in society was changing fast, and the Brothers Grimm realized this was inevitable.

    Painting by Emile Meyer (left) and illustration by Gertrud Caspari (right)

    But they still believed in some traditional values. While in their opinion, the primary role of a woman should still be raising kids and taking care of the home, she should show much more initiative than ever before. The main character in Grimm’s adaptation of Cinderella is an active participant who defends her rights.

    Enters Disney!

    After World War 2 and a series of financial flops, Disney Company was on the edge of bankruptcy. When they decided to make a movie about Cinderella, they were not in a position to take any risks. They wanted as much profit as possible to pay out the debts and revive the company.

    They had many options when creating characters for the movie and explored many of them during the screenplay drafts, but ultimately used the most stereotypical ones. Family values in American society favored the passive role of women much more than they did in the time of the Brothers Grimm.

    Illustration by John Rea Neill

    In the 19th century, the bourgeoisie viewed children as an expense, so they preferred working women to the middle class of the post-war 20th century. The increase in population meant more women stayed home and “produced” babies, who soon became the driving force of modern consumerism. society.

    Disney’s Cinderella is a nice, beautiful, and passive lady without real ambition and becomes a model for every modern princess, also known as the Daddy’s Girl. While women eventually gained more power in society, many girls still grow up in the expectation of finding their Prince Charming, who will take care of everything. They are not willing to invest too much in the search, because they are: good-looking, elegant, and friendly (at least to animals) – just like Cinderella!

    One more thing: this fairy tale is also one of the most popular (and influential) stories among boys, too!

    Additional info

    All presented images were created by artists who died at least 70 years ago and published before 1923. This makes them public domain in the European Union and the United States of America.

  • Town Musicians of Bremen – a fairy tale with important message

    Town Musicians of Bremen – a fairy tale with important message

    Bremen Town Musicians – a classic story with invaluable lessons

    The timeless messages of the classic fairy tale, The Town Musicians of Bremen, by the Grimm Brothers, have stood the test of time. It’s a story about respect, cooperation, and bravery.

    Illustrations by Leonard Leslie Brooke (left), and Harry Rountree (right)

    This fairy tale is a bit different than most classic stories for kids. It has animals in the main roles, and all the people in the story are presented in a bad light. Of course, we need to understand the narrative approach – animals are just examples of individuals who have lost their positions in society and are trying to find a new meaning in the slowly but surely approaching ends of their lives.

    All the chosen animals also carry rich symbolism, so we can perceive them as characteristics, functions, or traits in a dramatic expression of social conditions. To make them more relatable, they picked animals that most of us are familiar with. This makes them feel more at home. There are dozens of similar stories with different numbers, sometimes up to six animals, but all of them always belong to livestock and poultry. A bull, a duck, or a sheep are just a few examples. All of them can also be associated with positive and negative traits that give depth and humanity to the characters.

    Different versions of this story are found in the folklore of many countries all over the world, from Norway to South Africa. In these cases, Bremen can be replaced with another fictional or real location, or left unspecified.

    Illustration by Paula Ebner (left) and postcard by Oskar Herrfurth (right)

    Such a scholarly approach is even more understandable if we know the circumstances in which this story was written. Let’s explore a few interesting facts about the Bremen Town Musicians and try to learn a lesson or two by the way.

    Short Summary of Bremen Town Musicians

    A donkey becomes old, slow, and weak. He realizes his master will get rid of him, so he leaves him and goes toward Bremen, where he plans to become a town musician. On his way, he meets a dog with a very similar perspective, and the animals join their forces.

    Illustrations by Frederick Richardson (left) and Blanche Fisher Wright Laite (right)

    Before the end of the day, a cat and a rooster become members of the group as well.

    Night comes before they reach Bremen, so they try to find shelter in the woods. There, they see a hut with a few robbers inside. They have their loot and a lot of food on the table. Animals make some kind of pyramid and look like some kind of monster. They scare the robbers out of the hut.

    Illustratons by Paul Hey (left), Paul Friedrich Meyerheim (middle), and postcard by Oskar Herrfurth (right)

    They enjoy food, and each one of them finds a place to sleep.

    Illustrations by Monro Scott Orr (left) and Paula Ebner (right)

    Later, one of the robbers comes back. It’s dark, so he tries to make a fire in the heath. But there is the cat who jumps into his face, hissing and scratching. The robber escapes through the doors, but the dog that lies behind bites him. In the yard, a donkey kicks him, and for the grand finale, a rooster comes at him from the roof.

    Postcard by Felix Elsner (left) and illustration by Wilhelm Schaefer (right)

    When the robber returns to his gang, he explains that different monsters attacked him. Others, seeing his wounds, decide never to return there. The Town Musicians of Bremen stayed there and enjoyed their lives without ever reaching Bremen.

    Why Bremen?

    Most fairy tales don’t say exactly where they take place, but this one tells us that animals go to Bremen. Bremen has been around for over 1200 years and has managed to stay pretty independent for most of that time. It was one of the few cities where an ordinary man had more chances to prosper than in others. For a long time, it was one of the main ports for Europeans, particularly Germans, heading to America in search of a better life. It’s still the capital of the German state, the Free Hanseatic City of Bremen, made up of just two cities: Bremen and Bremerhaven.

    It’s very likely that the donkey in the story opted for Bremen because of its image of the place, where you can get a second chance. Or more chances than in other places. Or, any chance at all. Choosing a musical career is not surprising as well. In medieval Europe, traveling musical bands with animals playing simple instruments were quite popular, and Bremen is a town with a long tradition of festivals and similar events.

    Is this story so different than other classic fairy tales?

    At first glance, the Grimm Brothers’ The Bremen Town Musicians looks quite different. Yet it’s still a story where one (or more) characters try to improve their life. Finding partners, finding treasures, and improving social status are major goals of all the best stories, and this one is no exception. Members of this unusual group leave their homes (the standard beginning of countless fairy tales), find partners (in this case, friends, not spouses), and earn a fortune (the robbers’ hut is full of food and stolen stuff).

    Like in all great stories, the protagonists had to conquer mighty opponents and break at least some rules. In this scenario, they have the opportunity to escape the constraints imposed by society’s expectations (in this case, facing a certain death) and defeat a group of robbers. The robbers are stronger and armed, but the animals are smart and work as a team. Cunningness defeats brute force again. There are no kings or queens in this tale, but the animals clearly conquer their very own kingdom where they intend to live happily ever after.

    To make our case even more convincing, let’s borrow, for instance, an observation from Maria Tatar, who noticed that all four animals tested their possible places for sleeping just like Snow White or Goldilocks checked several beds before choosing one for resting.

    The story of second chances

    We can explain the popularity of the Bremen Town Musicians in different contexts. One of them is definitely the critical view of a capitalist society in which people are valued only for their usefulness. When the donkey can’t carry as much burden as before, it’s best to make glue of it. Metaphorically speaking, we can clearly see an aging human in him.

    Yes, we can say that everybody’s time is up one day, but the donkey refuses this simplistic approach. He is willing to pursue a second chance and at least try to do something else. If he can’t pull the cart, he might play a lute. While we may see him as a rebel at first, we soon learn he is not alone, which brings us to another valuable lesson. Animals can act as a group. They join their abilities to chase away the robbers and find a place to live. Robbers, on the other hand, take an ‘everybody for himself’ approach and lose everything.

    Illustrations by Leonard Leslie Brooke

    One obvious message of the fairy tale is that teamwork triumphs over selfishness. Another is probably the importance of maintaining optimism and focusing on the future.

    All used images are in the Public Domain or used by permission of the author.

    When you face trouble, do you try to see it as a challenge and an opportunity?

  • Beauty and the Beast – A Retelling of an Old Myth?

    Beauty and the Beast – A Retelling of an Old Myth?

    Beauty and the Beast, as an Echo from Mythology

    Beauty and the Beast is an extremely popular fairy tale with hundreds of variations. While it is one of the rare classic tales with attributed authorship, a closer examination reveals a number of shared elements with many other timeless stories.

    Beauty and the Beast by Anne Anderson

    The Brothers Grimm believed every fairy tale is actually an echo of an ancient myth. The narrative of a beautiful
    girl, isolated from the world and at the mercy of a beast, is not as original as it might seem, as it appears in not just
    one but several myths.

    So join us in exploring various Greek and Roman myths, with brief summaries and comparisons!

    Summary of Beauty and the Beast

    Here are the main elements:

    1. Beauty (Belle in French) is the name of the youngest and most beautiful of three daughters.
    2. Her father is a merchant. When he asks his daughters what they want as gifts from his upcoming trip, the two eldest wish for clothes and jewelry, but the youngest wants only a simple rose.
    3. The merchant finds a rose in a mysterious garden, where he encounters the Beast.
    4. Beast is willing to spare him only if he sends one of his daughters in exchange for his life.
    5. Beauty goes to his castle to save her father’s life.

    Beauty and the Beast by Elizabeth Tyler Wolcott (left) and Evelyn Stuart Hardy (right)

    1. Every evening, Beast asks her if she will marry him, and while she refuses him answers, she gradually becomes accustomed to his amiable personality.
    2. Every night, she dreams about a charming prince who needs her help, but she doesn’t know how to help him.
    3. Beauty becomes homesick, and Beast gives her permission to leave, but she has to return before a certain
      date. If she doesn’t, he will die.
    4. When she tells her sisters about the luxury in Beast’s castle, they become jealous and try to delay her
      departure.
    5. Beauty dreams of the Beast being sick and returns just in time to save his life. She accepts his offer of
      marriage, and he transforms into a beautiful prince.

    From Fairy Tale to Myth(s)

    Cupid (Eros) and Psyche

    1. Psyche is also the youngest and prettiest of three sisters.

    2. Venus (Aphrodite) becomes jealous and plans revenge: She wants her son, Cupid, to make her fall in love with the ugliest creature in the world.

    3. Instead, Cupid falls in love with Psyche.

    4. Psyche, on the other hand, is so beautiful that no mortal man dares to propose to her.

    Amor and Psyche by Ernst Roeber (left), Psyche Entering Cupid’s Garden (middle), and Psyche Opening the Golden Box by John William Waterhouse (right)

    5 . Oracles advise her parents that Psyche should be sacrificed to a monster with supernatural powers.

    6. Psyche is taken to the mountain, where invisible hands transport her to a mysterious castle. She lives there, being served by invisible servants.

    7. Somebody joins her every night, but he stays invisible, too.

    8. She falls in love with the ‘monster’ (Cupid) but must promise she will never look at him.

    Charon and Psyche by John Roddam Spencer (left) and Psyche Showing Her Sisters Her Gifts from Cupid by Mary-Joseph Blondel (right)

    9. Cupid arranges the visit of her sisters, who convince her to break her promise, and Cupid disappears.

    10. After long periods of wandering (underworld included) and several trials, Psyche eventually finds Cupid, and they reunite.
    In both cases, we deal with the use and abuse of power, isolation, jealousy, sacrifice, revenge, and above all – love. It is claimed that love is the best remedy for the seemingly unsolvable issues.

    What About Other Myths?

    Aphrodite and Hephaestus

    Aphrodite (Venus), the goddess of love and beauty, is so beautiful that other gods almost start a war for her hand, so Zeus (her father) promised her to Hephaestus, the most unattractive (to put it bluntly, the ugliest) of all gods.

    Venus at the Forge of Vulcan by Francesco Solimena (left) and Venus Visiting Vulcan by David Teniers the Elder (right)

    They live in the underworld, but she finds many ways to be unfaithful. It remains uncertain whether Eros (Cupid) is their son or the outcome of her affair with Ares (Mars).

    While the story doesn’t have a happy ending, it still shares several important themes with the tale of Beauty and the Beast: isolation, sacrifice, jealousy, violation of trust, and abuse of power…

    Galatea and Polyphemus

    She is in love with handsome Acis, but ugly Cyclops Polyphemus wants her for himself. While Polyphemus plays music, Acis and Galatea enjoy each other’s company.

    Polyphemus and Galatea by Gustave Moreau (left) and Galatea and Acis by Claude Lorrain (right)

    Cyclop decides to destroy his rival with a huge rock (he can be explained as a personification of volcano Etna), and Galatea turns Acis into a river (this is a real river in Sicily).

    There are versions of the story in which Galatea eventually falls in love with Polyphemus, and others in which they don’t end up together.

    In any case, we have the same elements of isolation, magical transformation, jealousy, revenge, and unpredictable love.

    Story of Europa

    In this tale, Zeus changes himself into a bull and carries beautiful Europa (she probably belongs to the nobility) to the island of Crete.

    Abduction of Europa by Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn

    We have another tale which starts with a beast who desires a beauty, and she comes to his place (an isolated island) against her will. After a while, she becomes accustomed to him, and the legend says their relationship produced three kings. Again: love, passion, and magical number three!

    Daphne and Apollo

    In this myth, we meet Eros (Cupid) again.

    Apollo and Daphne by Paolo Varonese (Caliari)

    He is in charge of love, after all … well, Apollo insulted him, and he ensures he falls in love with a nymph (Daphne) who can’t return his love. The reason? She was hit by Cupid’s arrow, too, but in her case, the arrow was made of lead!

    Daphne and Apollo by Benedetto Luti (left) and Piero del Pollaiolo (right)

    To protect her virginity, her father, Peneus, transforms her into a laurel tree, and this is why Apollo bears laurel leaves on his head – and they are evergreen, just like his love!

    Daphne and Apollo by Louis de Boullogne left)and Victor Bertin (right)

    See? Revenge, use and abuse of power, magical transformation, he wants her, she doesn’t want him, the important role of her father … ?

    Persephone and Hades

    Persephone is the daughter of Demeter, goddess of the harvest. Hades is not just another ugly guy from Greek mythology. He is probably the second most powerful god after Zeus, and when he wants Persephone for his wife, nothing can stop him. He kidnaps her, and she becomes his wife. Demeter cursed the earth and promised nothing would grow until her daughter was back with her.

    Abduction of Persephone by Ulpiano Checa (left) and Proserpine on the Throne b Harry George Theaker (right)

    Zeus had to intervene. Persephone had really been sent back, but Hades had one more ace up his sleeve. The conflict was solved in an interesting way: she spent part of the time on the surface of the world and part in the underworld with Hades. Persephone’s time with Hades is called winter. We don’t know if she eventually fell in love with her husband.

    In this case, identifying Beauty and the Beast is straightforward. The narrative involves a significant parental figure (typically the mother), forced isolation, abuse of power, a return to one’s roots, and various transformations.

    Pluto and Proserpine by Henry Bryson Burroughs (left) and Fate of Persephone (Walter Crane)

    Yes, the elements of the Beauty and the Beast fairy tale can be traced in more than one classical myth!

    What About Other Fairy Tales?

    We can go even further. This fairy tale shares numerous similarities with other widely recognized stories.

    • The jealousy part (among sisters) can be recognized in Snow White (stepmother-stepdaughter).
    • Father, incapable of protecting or even endangering his daughter, is present in Cinderella, Snow White, Sleeping Beauty, Rumpelstiltskin, and other tales.
    • The theme of isolation in a castle is also popular. The most similar situation is probably seen in Sleeping Beauty, where we even have invisible hands helping Beauty (older versions).
    • Let’s mention one of the most powerful messages from Beauty and the Beast, which is, of course: ‘Don’t judge a book by its cover,’ which is cynically twisted in Puss in Boots, where obviously ‘clothes make the man’.
    • The theme of the animal bridegroom is one of the most popular themes in the world of fairy tales, with the Frog Prince probably being the most well-known.

    We could go on and on, but the point should be very clear by now – dealing with a single fairy tale, we are instantly involved with centuries of world cultural heritage. Civilization didn’t start with Walt Disney. The world of fables is as old as humankind, and every one of us has a more or less active part in it. Which myth related to Beauty and the Beast do you prefer?

  • Pentameron

    Pentameron

    Il Pentamerone: The Oldest Known Collection of Fairy Tales

    Il Pentamerone (also known as Lo cunto de li cunti, or The Tale of Tales) is little-known outside academic circles, yet it is foundational to many popular fairy tales. Published in the 17th century, it predates Perrault’s Tales of Mother Goose and the Brothers Grimm’s Children’s and Household Tales, thereby setting the stage for classic fairy-tale literature.

    Understanding Il Pentamerone’s special place in history requires context about its era and Basile’s intent. Its importance lies in its role as the cornerstone of the evolution of fairy-tale storytelling.

    Indeed, some of the oldest versions of well-known tales, including Rapunzel, Cinderella, and The Beauty and the Beast, can be found in The Pentameron.

    The Book

    One of the most popular books in the 15th and 16th centuries was definitely Giovanni Boccaccio’s Decameron. It presents 100 stories, each told by one of 10 people over 10 days.

    How the Tales Came to Be Told by Warwick Goble (left) and The Goat-Faced Girl by Henry Justice Ford (right)

    Such a framed format, with fictional people telling fictional tales, was popular for centuries and reached its peak with the publication of Galland’s Arabian Nights at the beginning of the 18th century. Gianbattista Basile chose the same format but decided to write 50 stories, not 100, as in the Decameron. This logically leads to the unofficial name Pentameron. Another important influence was Giovanni Francesco Straparola’s The Pleasant Nights, perhaps the first collection of written fairy tales (though it contains other types of stories as well). Some of the plots that appear later in Basile’s book were already present in The Pleasant Nights. Straparola’s major contribution to the then nonexistent genre was the structure of the tales. It was revolutionary in that it presented the possibility of climbing the social ladder thanks to magic. Straparola introduced a so-called rags-to-riches plot.

    Basile, who likely held a higher social position than Straparola (whose life is shrouded in mystery), preferred a different kind of plot. The main character starts out as a prince, rich merchant, or similar member of the upper class, but loses this position due to circumstances beyond his or her control, such as war, illness, or accident.

    But through the story, the fallen star regains his or her position, which may be even higher at the end of the story. Such a plot was definitely less problematic for the target audience than Straparola’s.

    Yet just like Straprola, Basile didn’t want to risk – he never published his stories. They were printed only several years after his death, when his sister brought the manuscripts to the printers.

    Portraits of Giambattista Basile and his sister Nicoletta

    Basile’s Tale of Tales was published in two volumes: the first in 1534 and the second in 1536. Not even his sister dared to use the author’s real name, so the book was published under the pseudonym Gian Alesio Abbatutis.

    The style of narration is typical baroque with numerous unnecessary descriptions, which soon made the tales unfit for the new times, and they were almost forgotten until Jakob and Wilhelm Grimm discovered them in the translation of one of their colleagues, Felix Liebrecht.

    They praised the book as the first collection of national fairy tales in history. Its famous collection contains recognizable plots of many well-known tales. One of the reasons for staying unknown to a wider audience was the language of Pentamerone. It was written in Neapolitan dialect with numerous vulgarisms and many elements unsuitable for sensitive ears.

    Parsley (left), Three Enchanted Princes (middle) by Warwick Goble, and The Serpent Prince by Edmund Dulac (right)

    The Stories

    The Pentamerone starts with a frame story about Princess Zoza, who was unable to laugh. Her father finally manages to make her laugh, but she offended an old lady who put a spell on Zoza. She can marry a prince only if she fills a jug with her tears in three days. Just before the jug was filled, Zoza fell asleep, her slave stole it, and ended the task instead of her. The slave marries the prince, becomes pregnant, and demands to hear stories for her amusement. Ten storytellers, including Zoza (in disguise), told her five stories each, and one of them discloses a slave’s fraud. She is punished (cruelly), and Zoza finally gets her husband.

    Among the told stories, we can find many of the first known written versions of popular fairy tales like Rapunzel (Parsley), Snow White (The Young Slave), Brother and Sister (Nennillo and Nennella), Diamonds and Toads (The Two Cakes), King Thrushbeard (Pride Punished) … Despite the subtitle (Stories for Little Ones) these tales were obviously not meant for kids. They are full of themes more fitting for yellowback literature, such as unfaithful spouses, treacherous servants, and evil neighbors. They are also the first written collection of fairy tales, most of which have plots present in many countries. This makes the Pentamerone a very special literary treasure.

    Il Pentamerone, illustrations by George Cruikshank

    Some of the biting sharpness of the original Pentamerone was lost through translations. Actually, most of the book was heavily censored. For example, the first English translation (Taylor, 1848) included only 30 stories instead of 50 because the general public deemed Basile’s humor unacceptable. The second edition of Taylor’s translation in 1912 kept only 12 stories! But thanks to the widow of Richard Burton, famous translator of the Arabian Nights, English still got a complete book in 1893, three years after his death. However, the second edition of this book in 1927 was heavily censored, a fact that the editors briefly explained as ‘some corrections.’The best available translation today is probably by Nancy Canepa. It is a direct translation from the Neapolitan dialect, featuring all 50 stories, and is backed by extensive research. It’s definitely not a children’s book, but an important document from which everybody can learn a lot about the literature, our society, and ourselves.

    The Movie

    The Tale of Tales (Il racconto dei racconti) is a movie extravaganza by Matteo Garrone, with Salma Hayek, Shirley Henderson, Vincent Cassel, Toby Jones, John C. Reilly, and other movie stars. The book comprises three tales: The Enchanted Doe, The Flea, and The Flayed Old Lady, enriched with elements from other fairy tales in the Pentamerone.

    The Enchanted Snake (left) and The Myrtle (right) by Warwick Goble

    The movie is a unique creation with exotic settings, costumes, and music. Still, the plots and specific scenes may be a bit too gruesome for the general audience. The movie’s earnings (less than $6 million), despite its $12 million budget, reflect this concern. However, it will likely become a classic, a must-see for every film enthusiast willing to explore film beyond its ordinary limits. (And over two hours in length.) Beware: it’s R-rated for nudity and violence.

    Giving Credit to the Original

    The Pentameron, also known as The Tale of Tales, is arguably the most important book most people haven’t heard of. It introduced a so-called restoration plot into the story. In combination with fantastic elements, this plot forms the basis not only of fairy tales, but also of a significant portion of fiction in general.

    The Enchanted Snake (left) and The Goat-Faced Girl (right) by Henry Justice Ford

    The giants like Madame d’Aulnoy, Charles Perrault, Brothers Grimm, Hans Christian Andersen, but also J. R. R. Tolkien or J. K. Rowling all profited on this base, and it’s only fair to put the name of Giambattista Basile in the same group.

  • The Little Mermaid by Hans Christian Andersen

    The Little Mermaid by Hans Christian Andersen

    Was The Little Mermaid Hans Christian Andersen himself?

    The Little Mermaid (with sequels) is a popular animated movie made by Disney. However, if we look beyond plain entertainment, the original fairy tale by Hans Christian Andersen offers much more. While Andersen’s Little Mermaid is one of his best, it is also among his saddest stories and features many autobiographical elements. Next, let’s examine the surprising history of this tale, where even the great master of storytelling lost control.

    (Cover of French picture book illustrated by Ivan Bilibin)

    Very short summary (Andersen’s version)

    Little Mermaid is the youngest daughter of a Sea King. Each child must wait until their fifteenth birthday before going to the surface. For the youngest, waiting is hard as she listens to her older sisters’ stories about wonders on the coast, but finally, the day comes, and she can explore the world above.

    (illustration by Hans Tegner)

    The Little Mermaid falls in love with a human. They are both of royal origins, but belong to very different worlds. Mermaid tries to find a way to fit into the prince’s world, and it seems that with the help of the witch (and a lot of sacrifice), she can make it. But he falls in love with another girl. Little Mermaid lost her family and her beautiful voice and her feet, which she got in exchange for a fishtail, are hurting with every step – all for nothing. The witch offers her a second chance, but she should kill the prince for that.

    (illustration by Ivan Bilibin)

    Instead of that, the mermaid chooses to die.

    Not a very optimistic fairy tale, right?

    Who wrote The Little Mermaid, anyway?

    Although we must credit Andersen with authorship, we should note that his Little Mermaid is not entirely original. The basic plot is copied from Undine, written by Friedrich de la Motte Fouque. Undine is a romantic novel, based on a French folk tale, and was one of the most popular books of the 19th century. Andersen was familiar with it for sure. While he drew on the improbable love between a human and a fairy creature and a quest for the soul, he also added many original twists and enriched the story with autobiographical elements.

    How can writing expose the writer?

    (illustration by Anne Anderson)

    Even if we have never heard about the other versions of Little Mermaid and don’t really care about Andersen’s personal involvement in writing, we can spot a few moments in the story where things don’t look just as they are supposed to. Here are three of them:

    1. The situation where the mermaid rescues the prince but backs away when she could take credit for her bravery is pretty contradictory to her character as presented before and after that. But it tells us more about Andersen’s personality than he probably wanted to tell in any of his three autobiographies, written during his life. He was extremely shy in personal relations, and he never overcame the problem of expressing and confronting his true feelings. Although he was in love on more than a few occasions, he never managed to build an intimate relationship.
    2. The scene where the title character gets a chance to get even, if she kills the prince, is wrong from the very beginning. Well, not exactly wrong, but certainly not written in the tradition of folktales. With all the painful self-sacrifice, it actually looks more like a passage from the Holy Bible. Hans Christian Andersen was very religious, and he found deep consolation in his faith. If we look at the fairy tale about the little mermaid as a retelling of his personal problem, it makes perfect sense to understand it as a kind of religiously inspired statement.
    3. The afterword with explanation of the rules by which the mermaid can achieve her main goal (immortal soul) sooner if children behave, and later if they don’t. This definitely sounds more like preaching, not storytelling. Listeners don’t appreciate this kind of blackmailing, and we can say the writer of Andersen’s quality should never afford to do that.

    All of this can be used as proof of how deeply involved Andersen was in the story, if he made such ‘mistakes’, but we can actually confirm the theory with documents: personal letters and the writer’s diary. Instead of doing that, we’ll try to stay on the brighter, although a bit yellowish side, and explain who the real people are, who inspired Andersen’s retelling of this popular fairy tale.

    (illustration by Anne Anderson)

    Real characters in the story of the Little Mermaid

    Real Little Mermaid

    The title character is Hans Christian, of course. She not only resembles his personal love story (unfulfilled) but also some of his characteristics. Both are secluded, both very curious, both fascinated by new, unexplored places, and being of royal origin (Andersen believed he was an illegitimate son of Christian VIII), they seek attention from nobility.

    (illustration by Elisabeth Stuart Hardy)

    There is more. The greatest storyteller of all time tried to enter the world of theatre (his initial plan, when he left his home, was ‘to become famous’) as a singer and dancer, much before he wrote the first lines of any kind of fiction. He was even accepted in the Royal Danish Theatre thanks to his marvellous tenor, but his voice soon changed, and he lost the job. As a dancer, he was not so deprived of skill as elegance because he was too tall. All details are closely related to the mermaids who lost family, voice, and exchanged their fish tails for human legs (she could dance gracefully, but every step hurt).

    As we can see, the mermaid is making a sacrifice after a sacrifice to get closer to the prince, and it is obvious he likes her company as well. On the other hand, he stays distant, and in some cases, their relationship doesn’t even resemble friendship. We find out that he allows her to sleep at the doors of his bedroom, and we get the feeling he thinks about her more like a pet.

    (illustration by Edmund Dulac)

    Real Prince

    Who was the real prince in Andersen’s life? Who was nice, polite, but always reserved in all communications with the famous storyteller? If we recognize the writer in the mermaid, can we presume the prince was actually a lady?

    Not at all! Although Hans Christian Andersen was seriously in love several times, biographers agree the prince in The Little Mermaid could be only one person: Edvard Collin. Edvard Collin was the son of Jonas Collin, director of the Royal Danish Theatre and benefactor to Hans. Jonas arranged additional education for Hans and convinced King Frederick VI to pay for it. Hans Christian and Edvard became good friends, but with time, Andersen’s affection grew into infatuation. When he confessed his love, Edvard stayed friendly, but kept his distance. He never even accepted Andersen’s proposal to be addressed as a friend and family member (they were living under the same roof for years after all) and insisted on staying formal to the very end of their lives. On the other hand, he didn’t mind being on more friendly grounds with members of the upper middle class (like Wilhelm Wanscher, for instance), whose family Collin belonged to, and Andersen didn’t.

    (portrait of Edvard colin and Henriette Thyberg)

    Henriette Oline Thyberg

    Henriette Thyberg, a family friend, married Edvard Collin in August 1836, the same year that the fairy tale The Little Mermaid was published. She was also a member of the bourgeois class and a perfect match for Edvard. They had four kids: three daughters (two of whom died as children) and a boy, and they all became something of an extended family for Hans Christian, who wasn’t very skilled with paperwork and relied on Edvard’s help with publishing contracts and other business aspects of his creative work. In return, he built a monument to Edvard and Henriette’s daughter, Gerda, who died when she was only four, in another masterpiece: The Snow Queen, in which the main character is modeled (and named) after the deceased girl.

    Although Henriette, in a way, defeated Hans in a ‘fight’ for Edvard’s heart, they all remained friends throughout their lives and were even buried in the same grave for several years. So we can’t be surprised to find that the mermaid could not harm the prince when she saw him sleeping in the bed with his bride. She would rather choose her own death.

    (illustration by Edmund Dulac)

    What about other characters?

    We could go on and on with decoding the fairy tale, maybe starting with the Little Mermaid’s sisters who tried to get her back in their kingdom underwater, just like the writer’s real family members on several occasions unpleasantly reminded him of his origin, but there is no need for that.

    The fact is, this particular fairy tale was not meant to be read to children. It was not even meant to be published. The initial intention of H. c. Andersen was to write a beautiful, sad, and slightly accusing love letter to the biggest love of his life. Yes, just like we can say The Puss in the Boots could be read as Perrault’s cynical biography, we can understand The Little Mermaid as a romantic love letter in which, despite some of the above-mentioned imperfections, it is one of the best literary works ever.

    The reason is probably very simple. We can all relate to the pains of the rejected siren, just like we can all relate to a Cinderella at certain points in our lives. When a story touches so many hearts in the audience, it’s a great story. We don’t need a literary critic to explain that.

    (illustration by William Heath Robinson)

    In Andersen’s Fairy Tale, the Little Mermaid Dies!

    But Andersen concluded the story on an optimistic note, implying that she would eventually attain an immortal soul. However, he also made one of the biggest mistakes as a writer. He wrote that kids can speed up (or delay) the process of their admission to heaven by ‘being good.’ This suggestion equals blackmail.

    Edvard Collin and his wife Henriette were later buried with Andersen. However, their family members moved the Collins’ bodies after some years to the family plot in another cemetery.

  • Oscar Wilde: Fairy Tales

    Oscar Wilde: Fairy Tales

    Oscar Wilde’s fairy tales – illustrated

    Oscar Wilde was a world-renowned playwright, but many people are unaware of his fairy tales. He wrote two books for them, one for each of his sons. Interesting, isn’t it? Oscar Wilde believed fairy tales are essential for raising children, but he wasn’t satisfied with the existing classic works by the Grimm Brothers, Charles Perrault, Madame d’Aulnoy, and others. Still, he obviously wasn’t indifferent to fairy tales by Hans Christian Andersen. We can find many similarities between the fairy tales of both authors.

    Oscar Wilde read fairy tales to his sons, and we can also speculate that his writing was also influenced by his wife Constance, a productive editor, translator, and writer. This makes Wilde’s fairy tales a family project!

    Oscar Wilde’s list of fairy tales is short. He wrote only nine, and they were published in two separate books, which are both collectible items today. Some of these fairy tales were also published together with Wilde’s works for an adult audience, especially with The Picture of Dorian Gray. Another hint that they were not necessarily made for children is some illustrations which, by today’s standards, were ‘not suitable for work.’ Don’t worry, we didn’t include any of them. Before we delve into each story, we’ll present them with summaries of all fairy tales. Let’s first look at the tales collected in Wilde’s initial volume.

    The Happy Prince and Other Tales

    The book was first published in 1888, just before Cyril Wilde’s (who used the surname Holland for most of his life) third birthday. It includes five fairy tales, beginning with the title story.

    The Happy Prince: summary

    Illustration: Spencer Baird Nichols

    This is one of the most well-known and popular fairy tales by Oscar Wilde. The story begins in the Palace of Sans-Souci, where the prince lived a happy but futile life of pleasures. Only after his death, when his statue was put on a pedestal, did he see all the misery, poverty, and injustice in his town.


    The Happy Prince was covered with gold leaves, there were precious stones in place of his eyes, and his sword was decorated with a ruby. With the help of a swallow, the Happy Prince then literally gives himself part by part to poor people until he is left with nothing. Because ‘he was no longer beautiful, he was no longer useful,’ councilors ordered the melting of the statue.
    The swallow, who was so eager to help the prince, didn’t fly south in time and froze to death. So councilors also decided to proclaim, ‘No bird is allowed to die here.’


    In the ending scene, God orders them to bring him the most valuable things from town, and the angels bring him a statue heart made of lead and a dead bird.


    The Nightingale and the Rose – The summary

    Illustration: Charles Robinson

    The tale of Rose and Nightingale is one of selflessness and the ridiculousness of some of the things we all do in life.


    This fairy tale starts with a student who wants to impress a princess. He discovered that she likes red roses, and he wants to give her a perfect red rose. The problem is that there are no red roses in the garden. So a nightingale makes a deal with a white rose, and they will together create the most beautiful red rose ever.


    The bird sings every day, even though the rose’s thorn slowly pierces its heart, and sings the most beautiful songs of life, even though it’s really losing its heart. They succeed, but the bird dies. The princess says, “I’m afraid it won’t go with my dress.”


    All the sacrifices didn’t help, and the student concludes that love is too impractical, so he shall study Philosophy.

    The Selfish Giant by Oscar Wilde

    Illustration: Charles Robinson

    The story of the Selfish Giant is a story about altruism. Here is a summary:


    Giant has a beautiful garden with all sorts of flowers and fruits growing in it, and while he was on a visit (for several years), children from the neighborhood started to play in this garden. When he returned, he kicked the kids out. But!


    Winter came into the garden, and it stays in for the full year. Only when the giant let the children back in did the garden begin to look like a garden again. The crucial part is meeting with one child who was too small to reach up to the tree, and the giant helps him to get there.


    Children once again visited the garden, and the trees were in full bloom. But the little child didn’t come back until the very end of the giant’s life. That’s when we learned that the child was Jesus.

    The Devoted Friend by Oscar Wilde

    Illustration: Jacomb Hood

    This fairy tale bears a slight resemblance to Andersen’s “Little Claus and Big Claus.” Here we have a rich man and a poor man, too, but the poor one doesn’t win in the end. In fact, he dies after exploitation and a series of misfortunes.


    A rich miller and a poor gardener are friends, or at least they are supposed to be. Miller visits the gardener every day and picks his most beautiful flowers.


    He never gives him any money. After a long winter, the gardener was almost starved to death (the miller didn’t want to bother inviting him into his warm house full of stuff because he didn’t want to spoil him).


    Then the miller promised to give the gardener his old wheelbarrow in exchange for more services.


    Ultimately, the gardener passed away during one of his “missions” before he could acquire a wheelbarrow, which was rendered useless and inoperable. The miller realizes that he is only concerned with his wheelbarrow and will never provide any assistance to anyone.

    The Remarkable Rocket

    Illustration: Charles Robinson

    There are many ways in which Remarkable Rocket is like Oscar Wilde’s life. It is a story about a rocket waiting to explode in its full glitter and beauty, like Wilde, most of whose life promised much more than it actually showed.


    In the end, the rocket explodes when nobody sees or hears her, like Wilde died lonely and almost forgotten.

    Illustration: Walter Crane

    A House of Pomegranates

    The book came out in 1891, when Oscar Wilde’s second son, Vyvyan (like his older brother, he used the surname Holland for most of his life), was almost five years old. There are only four fairy tales in this book. We’ll present them in the order they were published.

    The Birthday of the Infanta

    Illustration: Jessie Marion King

    This is the only Wilde’s fairy tale with a woman in the title (a rocket is not considered a human being). But she, the female equivalent of the Happy Prince (when he was still alive), a spoiled child, as Oscar Wilde himself was in many ways, is not the main character.

    The protagonist of the narrative is a crippled, unattractive boy who was discovered in the forest and purchased from his father solely for the purpose of entertaining the princess through dancing (the term “infantas” refers to the daughters of Spanish and Portuguese kings, and “infant” means child). She was delighted with his appearance, and he, naïve as he was, believed she really liked him.


    When he hears that he will dance again after the break, he starts dreaming about how they will become friends. Then he strayed into the palace and, for the first time, saw his unattractive image in the mirror. Boy realizes the unpleasant truth. Princess never liked him. She was only laughing at him.


    This literally breaks his heart, and he dies just when the princess enters. Her statement? “Those who come to play with must not have hearts!”

    The Star-Child

    Illustration: Spencer Baird Nichols

    Of all of Wilde’s works, the Star-Child story most closely resembles traditional fairy tales. It tells us about a boy found in the woods who denies his mother when he is found because he is beautiful and she is not.


    After a series of tests and a lot of repentance, we got the classic transformation and happy ending, but Wilde would not be Wilde without an addition: Star-Child becomes a king (good one) only for a few years. Then he died, and the next king was evil.

    The Young King

    Illustration: Spencer Baird Nichols

    In this Oscar Wilde fairy tale, a young man is born into the king’s only daughter’s covert marriage. There were all sorts of rumors about the boy’s father and what happened to him and the princess who vanished soon after the birth. The boy was raised by commoners, and the king, who was dying, wanted his grandson back.


    The story starts when the young prince waits for his coronation. He is supposed to dress in the most precious clothes, but in his dreams, he sees so much suffering caused in the search for perfect fabric, perfect pearls, and so on, he decides he will go to church dressed like a shepherd. In the church, a miracle happens.
    This child made the selfish giant change his mind.

    The Fisherman and His Soul

    Illustration: Jessie Marion King

    Wilde’s fairy tale, The Fisherman and His Soul, is a story about a man who falls in love with a mermaid. If he wants to join her, he should get rid of his soul.


    He asks a witch for help, and after some delay, she tells him what to do. The problem is that his soul doesn’t want to leave. And when it does, they agreed the fisherman will return to the seaside every year just in case he changes his mind.


    In many ways, this fairy tale resembles Andersen’s Little Mermaid, but is written from a different point of view and with a different message. While in Andersen’s story the soul was the ultimate goal, Wilde presents it as useless and corrupted. His sympathies are clearly on the side of the soulless creatures of the ocean.

    Reflecting on these stories, we are led to consider: do the fairy tales of Oscar Wilde echo Andersen’s stories?


    Some experts say the fairy tales in both books he wrote are maybe the best example of Wilde’s mastery of the language. His vivid landscape descriptions, emotional portrayals, flawless dialogues, and critiques of the social system are united to form captivating narratives that leave a profound and enduring impression on the minds of readers, despite the absence of explicit moral messages.


    Wilde’s fairy tales present his view on life, not how it should be, but how it is, with a lot of pathos but also a lot of hope, which can probably be compared with only one fairy tale author: Hans Christian Andersen, whose language was much simpler and down-to-earth. If we can easily find folk stories that inspired Andersen, with Wilde, things are more complicated.


    His tales contain traditional themes (a prince on a quest, the children in the forest, a conflict between good and evil), but there are also clear references to other works. The Faustian deal, perfectly written in Picture of Dorian Gray, is also present in The Fisherman and His Soul, a brilliant rewriting of Little Mermaid, one of the saddest fairy tales by H. C. Andersen, but in even darker tones.


    Andersen’s fairy tales are reflected in all of Wilde’s fairy tales; sometimes this is less obvious and sometimes more so. Both writers are very religious and use a lot of humor and emotion in their writing.


    In Wilde’s fairy tales, Andersen’s melancholy is replaced with cynicism, and Andersen’s irony at Wilde’s works turns into sarcasm. If we can still find a search for the place in the society in Andersen’s tales, Wilde’s tales are extremely individualistic.
    It is certainly no coincidence that The Happy Prince and Other Tales (1888) and House of Pomegranates (1891) were written and published right after the births of his sons. Cyril was born in 1885, and Vyvyan in 1886, but they were not written with these kids specifically in mind. They talk to every child in the world, and the adults can benefit from them, too. Maybe even more.
    Because everybody should, just like the Happy Prince, sooner or later get out of the palace ‘where sorrow is not allowed to enter.’

    Some similarities between Oscar Wilde’s and Hans Christian Andersen’s lives and works
    they both:

    • preferred talking to writing,
    • preferred theater to books,
    • wrote fairy tales with a lot of emotions, criticism of society, and without happy endings,
    • achieved high popularity in the highest circles, but were essentially unhappy in private life,
    • wrote with a lot of irony, bitterness, and sarcasm in their works,
    • wrote their works for children with their parents in mind,
    • died due to the consequences of their falls a few years before.

    So, share the article online, pin the images, read the fairy tales, and help keep Oscar Wilde’s legacy alive.