Manštin, the Rabbit explained

What happens

Themes in this chapter

• Transformation and Identity

  Manštin transforms a baby into a full-grown man, and later trades his eyes for a blind man's life, only to reclaim his own identity after learning a lesson.

• Family and Kinship

  Manštin's bond with his grandmother, his rescue of the baby for its parents, and his friendship with the transformed man highlight the importance of family and community.

• Justice and Retribution

  Manštin punishes the cruel Double-Face by killing him with a poisoned arrow, delivering justice for the tortured baby.

Characters to notice

• Manštin

  The kindhearted rabbit brave who rescues a baby from Double-Face, transforms the child into a man, and later trades his eyes for a blind grandfather's magic bags, only to learn a lesson about contentment.

• Double-Face

  The cruel monster with a face on both sides of his head, who tortures a baby and is killed by Manštin's poisoned arrow.

• The Dakotas

  The parents of the stolen baby; they initially fear Manštin but accept his help and friendship.

• Grandfather

  The blind old man who lives in a hut with magic food bags; he trades his comfortable life for Manštin's eyes, but later returns them after Manštin learns his lesson.

• The Stranger

  The newly made man from the transformed baby, who becomes Manštin's friend and later helps him by using the Earth Ear.

Key passages

• “Stamping a moccasined foot as he drew on his buckskin leggins, he said: “Grandmother, beware of Iktomi! Do not let him lure you into some cunning trap. I am going to the North country on a long hunt.””

  Manštin warns his grandmother to be cautious of Iktomi's tricks before departing for a hunting trip to the North.

  Establishes Manštin's protective nature and sets the chapter in motion.

• ““Wän!” he ejaculated, pointing his long ears toward the direction of the sound; “Wän! that is the work of cruel Double-Face. Shameless coward! he delights in torturing helpless creatures!””

  Hearing a child's scream, Manštin identifies the culprit as the cruel Double-Face, who enjoys tormenting the innocent.

  Introduces the antagonist and Manštin's sense of justice.

• ““Henceforth we are friends, to help each other,” said Manštin, shaking a right hand in farewell. “The earth is our common ear, to carry from its uttermost extremes one’s slightest wish for the other!””

  Manštin declares an eternal friendship with the transformed man, explaining that the earth will carry their wishes to each other.

  Highlights the theme of kinship and the magical bond between the two friends.

• ““Grandfather, I would give you my two eyes for your place!” cried Manštin. “How! you have said it. Arise. Take out your eyes and give them to me. Henceforth you are at home here in my stead.””

  Manštin offers to trade his eyes for the blind grandfather's comfortable life, and the grandfather accepts the exchange.

  Key moment of transformation and the beginning of Manštin's lesson.

• ““Here Manštin, take back your eyes,” said the old man, “I knew you would not be content in my stead, but I wanted you to learn your lesson.””

  The grandfather returns Manštin's eyes, explaining that the experience was meant to teach him a lesson about appreciating his own abilities.

  Resolution of the chapter's moral lesson.