# The Three Black Princesses explained — Household Tales

> Chapter companion for Household Tales by Jacob Grimm.

## 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.

## Character check-ins

### 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 lines

> 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._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/household_tales_se/chapters/the-three-black-princesses
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/household_tales_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/household_tales_se/chapters