# I explained — Short Fiction

> Chapter companion for Short Fiction by George MacDonald.

## What happens

The chapter introduces a strange country where a princess is born. She is spoiled by her parents, becoming increasingly peevish and destructive. The king and queen seek help from a wise woman, who blames them for their poor treatment. After a confrontation, the princess disappears, and the wise woman is suspected of taking her.

## Themes in this chapter

### Vanity and Self-Conceit

The princess is raised to believe she is 'Somebody' and becomes self-centered and demanding.

### Wealth and Materialism

The princess is given excessive material possessions, which she quickly tires of and destroys.

### Family and Sacrificial Love

The king and queen's misguided indulgence of their daughter highlights a distorted form of parental love.

## Character check-ins

### Rosamond

The spoiled princess, prone to destructive rages and cruelty to animals.

### The Princess

Rosamond's mother, the queen, who along with the king seeks help from the wise woman.

### Prince

Rosamond's father, the king, who is frustrated by his daughter's behavior.

## Key lines

> As she grew up it was still the same, with this difference, that not only must she have everything, but she got tired of everything almost as soon as she had it.

As she matured, her insatiable desire for possessions was matched only by her immediate boredom with them.

_Illustrates the theme of wealth and materialism._

> How very badly you have treated her! ... You should have given her a few things of the other sort.

The wise woman criticizes the parents for spoiling their daughter and suggests they should have provided discipline instead.

_Highlights the theme of family and sacrificial love._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/short_fiction_21_se/chapters/i
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/short_fiction_21_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/short_fiction_21_se/chapters