Russian Folktales · Chapter
The Princess to Be Kissed at a Charge explained
An old man dies, leaving three sons.
What happens
An old man dies, leaving three sons. The youngest, Vanyúshka, faithfully reads prayers at his father's grave, while his elder brothers prepare to compete for the hand of Princess Eléna the Fair, who will marry the man who can kiss her on a flying horse. The father's spirit rewards Ványa with a magical horse, transforming him into a handsome youth. He flies to the palace, kisses the princess, and returns home unnoticed. When the princess seeks her bridegroom, she finds Ványa in his humble form, recognizes him, and they are betrothed.
Themes in this chapter
Heroic Quest and Transformation
Ványa's journey from an undersized, neglected youngest son to a handsome, victorious bridegroom through his father's magical aid exemplifies the heroic transformation.
Family and Betrayal
The elder brothers betray their father's dying wish by neglecting his grave, while Ványa's faithfulness is rewarded, highlighting familial duty and betrayal.
Fate and Divine Justice
The father's ghost intervenes to ensure Ványa's success, rewarding piety and humility while the brothers' selfishness goes unrewarded.
Characters to notice
- Ivánushka
The youngest son, initially undersized and flat-chested, faithfully reads prayers at his father's grave and is rewarded with a magical horse, transforming into a handsome youth who wins the princess.
- The Old Man
The father who dies and later rises from the grave to aid his youngest son Ványa, providing a magical horse and advice.
- Princess Eléna the Fair
The tsar's daughter who builds a temple and decrees she will marry the man who kisses her on a flying horse; she eventually recognizes and chooses Ványa.
- The Youngest Son
One of the three sons, but specifically the elder brothers who neglect their father's grave and compete for the princess, only to be outdone by Ványa.
Key passages
“But the tale tells that, even when our grandfathers had not learned their lessons and our great-great-great-great-grandfathers had not been born, in a certain kingdom, in a certain land, once there lived an old man who had taught his three sons reading and writing.”
The story begins long ago, before our ancestors were even born, in a faraway kingdom where an old man taught his three sons to read and write.
Sets the tale in a distant, mythical past.
“Ványa mounted the horse by one ear, dismounted it by the other, and turned into so fine a youth as no tale can tell and no pen can write.”
Ványa got on the horse through one ear and off through the other, transforming into a strikingly handsome young man beyond description.
Describes the magical transformation using a classic folkloric motif.
“He stretched out, leaped on, and he did not reach two of the crowns. He again made an effort, flew up, jumped; there was only one wreath left. He made one more effort, turned round once more, and, as fire leaps to the eyes, he instantly kissed and smacked Eléna the Fair on the lips.”
He tried three times: first he missed by two crowns, then by one, and on the third attempt he swiftly kissed the princess on the lips.
Illustrates the threefold attempt common in fairy tales, culminating in success.
“For he said, 'I won her like a knight; now she is to love me in my kaftán.'”
He thought, 'I won her as a knight; now she must love me in my simple peasant coat.'
Reflects Ványa's confidence that the princess will accept him in his humble form.