Household Tales · Chapter
One-Eye, Two-Eyes, and Three-Eyes explained
Two-Eyes, a girl with two eyes like ordinary people, is mistreated by her mother and sisters, One-Eye and Three-Eyes.
What happens
Two-Eyes, a girl with two eyes like ordinary people, is mistreated by her mother and sisters, One-Eye and Three-Eyes. A wise woman gives her a magical goat that provides food. After the goat is killed, the wise woman instructs her to bury its entrails, which grow into a tree with silver leaves and golden fruit. Only Two-Eyes can pick the fruit. A knight comes, and after Two-Eyes gives him a branch, he takes her away and marries her. Her sisters later fall into poverty, but Two-Eyes forgives and cares for them.
Themes in this chapter
Jealousy and Envy
The sisters and mother envy Two-Eyes for her normal eyes and later for her magical tree, leading to cruelty.
Virtue Rewarded and Vice Punished
Two-Eyes' kindness and patience are rewarded with a happy marriage, while her sisters eventually suffer poverty and repent.
Family Dynamics and Betrayal
The mother and sisters betray Two-Eyes through neglect and cruelty, but she ultimately forgives them.
Characters to notice
- little Two-eyes
The protagonist, mistreated by her family, receives magical aid and eventually marries a knight.
- the maiden
The wise woman who advises Two-Eyes and provides the magical goat and instructions.
- the young King
The knight who marries Two-Eyes and takes her to his castle.
- the mother
The mother who favors One-Eye and Three-Eyes and mistreats Two-Eyes.
Key passages
“Bleat, my little goat, bleat, Cover the table with something to eat”
The wise woman teaches Two-Eyes a rhyme to summon a table of food from her goat.
Magical provision for Two-Eyes' hunger.
“Two-eyes, I will give thee a piece of good advice; ask thy sisters to give thee the entrails of the slaughtered goat, and bury them in the ground in front of the house, and thy fortune will be made.”
After the goat is killed, the wise woman advises Two-Eyes to bury its entrails to grow a magical tree.
Transformation of loss into fortune.
“Two-eyes, what shall I give thee for it?”
The knight asks Two-Eyes what she wants in exchange for a branch from the tree.
Knight's offer leads to Two-Eyes' rescue.