Indian Fairy Tales · Chapter
The Ivory City and Its Fairy Princess explained
A prince accidentally wounds a merchant's wife while practicing archery, leading to his banishment.
What happens
A prince accidentally wounds a merchant's wife while practicing archery, leading to his banishment. Accompanied by the vizier's son, he embarks on a journey, narrowly escaping robbers, and eventually reaches the Ivory City where he wins the hand of the fairy princess Gulizar. After a triumphant return with treasure and troops, he reconciles with his father and becomes a beloved ruler.
Themes in this chapter
Love and Destiny
The prince's quest for Gulizar, guided by fate and the vizier's son, culminates in a destined marriage.
Greed and Its Consequences
The robbers' greed leads to their downfall when the prince and his soldiers destroy their tower and seize their treasure.
Characters to notice
- Prince Majnun
The prince who accidentally wounds a merchant's wife and is banished; later seeks and marries Princess Gulizar.
- Gulizar
The fairy princess of the Ivory City who becomes the prince's bride.
- The Wazir
The vizier's son, loyal friend who accompanies the prince into exile and helps him win Gulizar.
- Raja Sarkap
The king who orders the prince's banishment after the accidental shooting.
Key passages
“took out of her bosom an ivory box, and held it up to me. Then I fainted. Oh! if you can get me that fairy for my wife, I will go anywhere with you.”
She revealed an ivory box from her bosom, causing me to faint. I vowed to go anywhere if you could win that fairy as my bride.
The prince describes his vision of Gulizar and his desire to marry her.
“I have a charm, whereby I can make them thin or fat.”
I possess a magic spell that can shrink or enlarge objects at will.
The vizier's son uses a charm to sneak the horses through a narrow door.