Household Tales · Chapter
The Three Black Princesses explained
A poor fisherman's son is taken prisoner by an enemy, and his father uses the ransom money to become burgomaster.
What happens
A poor fisherman's son is taken prisoner by an enemy, and his father uses the ransom money to become burgomaster. The son escapes, enters an enchanted black castle, and meets three black princesses who can be delivered if he does not speak to or look at them for a year. He visits his father, is nearly hanged, but is recognized. His mother advises him to use holy water on the princesses, which backfires, causing the castle to sink and the son to break his leg.
Themes in this chapter
Magic and the Supernatural
The enchanted castle, the three black princesses, and the magical transport and transformation are central to the plot.
Promises and Their Consequences
The son's promise to not speak or look at the princesses for a year is broken, leading to dire consequences.
Family Dynamics and Betrayal
The mother's advice to use holy water betrays the son's mission and results in the failure of the deliverance.
Characters to notice
- the son
The poor fisherman's son who is taken prisoner, later enters the enchanted castle and attempts to deliver the three black princesses.
- the poor man
The fisherman who becomes burgomaster after paying the ransom with the money from the enemy.
- the maiden
The three black princesses who are trapped in the enchanted castle and seek deliverance.
Key passages
“East India was besieged by an enemy who would not retire until he had received six hundred dollars. Then the townsfolk caused it to be proclaimed by beat of drum that whosoever was able to procure the money should be burgomaster.”
The town of East India is under siege and offers the position of mayor to anyone who can raise the ransom of six hundred dollars.
Sets up the initial conflict and the reward for solving it.
“Then came three young princesses who were entirely dressed in black, but had a little white on their faces; they told him he was not to be afraid, they would not hurt him, and that he could deliver them.”
Three princesses, all in black with only a bit of white on their faces, appear and tell the son he can free them from their enchantment.
Introduces the magical task and the princesses' condition.
“Then his mother said that might very likely not be a good thing to do, and that he ought to take a holy-water vessel with him, and drop some boiling water on their faces.”
The son's mother advises him to use holy water on the princesses, which proves to be disastrous advice.
The mother's intervention leads to the failure of the quest.