The Robber Bridegroom: Grimm's Fairy Tales
The Story of "The Robber Bridegroom"
There was once a Miller, who had a beautiful daughter. When she grew up, he wanted to have her married and settled. He thought, ‘If a suitable bridegroom come and ask for my daughter, I will give her to him.’
Soon after a suitor came who appeared to be rich, and as the Miller knew nothing against him he promised his daughter to him. The Maiden, however, did not like him as a bride ought to like her bridegroom; nor had she any faith in him. Whenever she looked at him, or thought about him, a shudder came over her. One day he said to her, ‘You are my betrothed, and yet you have never been to see me.’
The Maiden answered: ‘I don’t even know where your house is.’
Then the Bridegroom said, ‘My house is in the depths of the forest.’
She made excuses, and said she could not find the way.
The Bridegroom answered: ‘Next Sunday you must come and see me without fail. I have invited some other guests, and, so that you may be able to find the way, I will strew some ashes to guide you.’
When Sunday came, and the Maiden was about to start, she was frightened, though she did not know why. So that she should be sure of finding her way back she filled her pockets with peas and lentils. At the entrance to the forest she found the track of ashes, and followed it; but every step or two she scattered a few peas right and left.
She walked nearly the whole day, right into the midst of the forest, where it was almost dark. Here she saw a solitary house, which she did not like; it was so dark and dismal. She went in, but found nobody, and there was dead silence. Suddenly a voice cried—
‘Turn back, turn back, thou bonnie Bride,
Nor in this house of death abide.’
The Maiden looked up, and saw that the voice came from a bird in a cage hanging on the wall. Once more it made the same cry—
‘Turn back, turn back, thou bonnie Bride,
Nor in this house of death abide.’
The beautiful Bride went from room to room, all over the house, but they were all empty; not a soul was to be seen. At last she reached the cellar, and there she found an old, old woman with a shaking head.
‘Can you tell me if my Bridegroom lives here?’
‘Alas! poor child,’ answered the old woman, ‘little dost thou know where thou art; thou art in a murderer’s den. Thou thoughtest thou wast about to be married, but death will be thy marriage. See here, I have had to fill this kettle with water, and when they have thee in their power they will kill thee without mercy, cook, and eat thee, for they are eaters of human flesh. Unless I take pity on thee and save thee, thou art lost.’ Then the old woman led her behind a great cask, where she could not be seen. ‘Be as quiet as a mouse,’ she said. ‘Don’t stir, or all will be lost. To-night, when the murderers are asleep, we will fly. I have long waited for an opportunity.’
Hardly had she said this when the riotous crew came home. They dragged another maiden with them, but as they were quite drunk they paid no attention to her shrieks and lamentations. They gave her wine to drink, three glasses full—red, white, and yellow. After she had drunk them she fell down dead. The poor Bride hidden behind the cask was terrified; she trembled and shivered, for she saw plainly to what fate she was destined.
One of the men noticed a gold ring on the little finger of the murdered girl, and as he could not pull it off he took an axe and chopped the finger off; but it sprang up into the air, and fell right into the lap of the Bride behind the cask. The man took a light to look for it, but he could not find it. One of the others said, ‘Have you looked behind the big cask?’
But the old woman called out: ‘Come and eat, and leave the search till to-morrow; the finger won’t run away.’
The murderer said: ‘The old woman is right,’ and they gave up the search and sat down to supper. But the old woman dropped a sleeping draught into their wine, so they soon lay down, went to sleep, and snored lustily.
When the Bride heard them snoring she came out from behind the cask; but she was obliged to step over the sleepers, as they lay in rows upon the floor. She was dreadfully afraid of touching them, but God helped her, and she got through without mishap. The old woman went with her and opened the door, and they hurried away as quickly as they could from this vile den.
All the ashes had been blown away by the wind, but the peas and lentils had taken root and shot up, and showed them the way in the moonlight.
They walked the whole night, and reached the mill in the morning. The Maiden told her father all that she had been through.
When the day which had been fixed for the wedding came, the Bridegroom appeared, and the Miller invited all his friends and relations. As they sat at table, each one was asked to tell some story. The Bride was very silent, but when it came to her turn, and the Bridegroom said, ‘Come, my love, have you nothing to say? Pray tell us something,’ she answered:
‘I will tell you a dream I have had. I was walking alone in a wood, and I came to a solitary house where not a soul was to be seen. A cage was hanging on the wall of one of the rooms, and in it there was a bird which cried—
“Turn back, turn back, thou bonnie Bride,
Nor in this house of death abide.”
It repeated the same words twice. This was only a dream, my love! I walked through all the rooms, but they were all empty and dismal. At last I went down to the cellar, and there sat a very old woman, with a shaking head. I asked her. “Does my Bridegroom live here?” She answered, “Alas, you poor child, you are in a murderer’s den! Your Bridegroom indeed lives here, but he will cut you to pieces, cook you, and eat you.” This was only a dream, my love! Then the old woman hid me behind a cask, and hardly had she done so when the murderers came home, dragging a maiden with them. They gave her three kinds of wine to drink—red, white, and yellow; and after drinking them she fell down dead. My love, I was only dreaming this! Then they took her things off and cut her to pieces. My love, I was only dreaming! One of the murderers saw a gold ring on the girl’s little finger, and, as he could not pull it off, he chopped off the finger; but the finger bounded into the air, and fell behind the cask on to my lap. Here is the finger with the ring.’
At these words she produced the finger and showed it to the company.
When the Bridegroom heard these words, he turned as pale as ashes, and tried to escape; but the guests seized him and handed him over to justice. And he and all his band were executed for their crimes.
The Story of "The Robber Bridegroom"
- Grimm's Fairy Tales -
The Moral Lessons of “The Robber Bridegroom”
"The Robber Bridegroom," a classic fairy tale by the Brothers Grimm, unfolds a gripping story of deception, courage, and justice. As with many fairy tales, this narrative is rich with moral lessons that are relevant even today. By examining the tale’s characters and events, we can uncover several key moral teachings:
1. Trust Your Instincts
At the heart of "The Robber Bridegroom" is the Maiden’s instinctual distrust of her suitor. From the outset, she feels uneasy about him, a feeling that ultimately proves to be justified. This teaches us the importance of listening to our gut feelings and intuition. Often, our instincts are informed by subtle cues that our rational mind may overlook. The tale suggests that we should heed these internal warnings, especially when something or someone doesn’t feel right.
2. "The Robber Bridegroom" and Courage in the Face of Danger
The Maiden’s bravery is evident when she decides to visit the suitor despite her fears. Her courage extends beyond simply confronting the situation; it includes her resourcefulness in using peas and lentils to find her way back, and her ability to escape from the murderers. This illustrates that courage is not just about facing danger head-on but also about being resourceful and persistent in difficult circumstances.
3. The Importance of Preparation and Resourcefulness
The Maiden’s decision to fill her pockets with peas and lentils reflects her prudence and foresight. In "The Robber Bridegroom," by preparing for the worst, she ensures that she has a means of finding her way back if necessary. This preparation proves crucial in her escape. The story underscores the value of being prepared and thinking ahead, especially when facing unknown or potentially dangerous situations.
4. The Value of Seeking Help and Alliances in "The Robber Bridegroom"
The old woman who helps the Maiden is a key figure in her escape. Her willingness to assist and her own resourcefulness in drugging the murderers’ wine are pivotal in ensuring the Maiden’s safety. This highlights the importance of seeking help when needed and the value of alliances. In challenging times, support from others can be crucial to overcoming adversity.
5. The Truth Will Prevail
"The Robber Bridegroom" emphasizes that truth ultimately triumphs. Despite the Bridegroom’s attempts to deceive and harm the Maiden, the truth about his murderous intentions is revealed through her recounting of experiences. The narrative illustrates that deceit and wrongdoing will eventually come to light, and justice will be served. It reinforces the idea that integrity and honesty are paramount, and dishonest actions will ultimately be exposed.
6. The Consequences of Wickedness in "The Robber Bridegroom"
The story concludes with the punishment of the Bridegroom and his band for their crimes. This outcome serves as a powerful reminder that wicked deeds have consequences. The tale reinforces the notion that those who commit harm or injustice will face retribution, emphasizing the moral principle that wrongdoing does not go unpunished.
The limitations of the story: Dark Themes and Violence
The story involves themes of violence and murder, including the detailed depiction of a plan to kill and eat the Maiden. This dark subject matter may be unsettling for some readers, especially children, despite the tale's classification as a fairy tale.
Conclusion
"The Robber Bridegroom" offers a rich tapestry of moral lessons that remain relevant today. From trusting one’s instincts to the importance of courage, preparation, and seeking help, the tale provides valuable insights into navigating challenging situations. Additionally, it reinforces the principles of truth and justice, reminding us that wickedness will eventually face its due consequences. As with many fairy tales, the story serves not only as a captivating narrative but also as a guide for ethical and moral conduct in our own lives.
