# Brides on Their Trial explained — Household Tales

> Chapter companion for Household Tales by Jacob Grimm.

## What happens

A young shepherd, unable to choose among three equally pretty sisters, follows his mother's advice to test them by observing how they eat cheese. The first eats the rind, the second wastes good cheese while cutting, and the third peels the rind carefully. Based on this, the mother advises him to marry the third, which he does, and they live happily.

## Themes in this chapter

### Social Class and Marriage

The shepherd's choice of a wife is based on practical domestic behavior, reflecting how marriage decisions were influenced by household skills and thrift.

## Character check-ins

### the youth

The young shepherd who seeks his mother's advice on choosing a wife.

### the maiden

The third sister, chosen for her careful and thrifty way of eating cheese.

## Key lines

> Invite all three, and set some cheese before them, and watch how they eat it.

The mother advises the shepherd to test the sisters by observing their manner of eating cheese.

_This test reveals the sisters' characters through a simple domestic action._

> Take the third for thy wife.

The mother recommends the third sister because she ate the cheese most carefully and without waste.

_The choice is based on the sister's prudence and moderation._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/household_tales_se/chapters/brides-on-their-trial
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/household_tales_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/household_tales_se/chapters