Short Fiction · Chapter
IV explained
The wise woman cares for the princess Rosamond, who suspects her of being an ogress intent on fattening her to eat her.
What happens
The wise woman cares for the princess Rosamond, who suspects her of being an ogress intent on fattening her to eat her. The wise woman leaves instructions for Rosamond to clean the cottage and keep the fire, but Rosamond disobeys, staying idle and fearful. At night, the cottage is besieged by terrifying creatures, and Rosamond, having neglected her duties, suffers agonizing terror. She resolves to run away but finds the door locked, and her attempts to escape are thwarted.
Themes in this chapter
Moral Growth and Redemption
Rosamond's disobedience and subsequent terror highlight the need for moral growth and the consequences of selfishness.
Reality vs. Illusion
Rosamond misinterprets the wise woman's kindness as malevolent intent, illustrating her distorted perception of reality.
Characters to notice
- Rosamond
The princess, suspicious and disobedient, refuses to follow the wise woman's instructions and suffers terrifying nights as a result.
- Wise Woman
The wise woman cares for Rosamond, tries to teach her obedience, and leaves her alone in the cottage with specific tasks.
Key passages
“She was one of those who the more they are coaxed are the more disagreeable.”
Rosamond becomes more stubborn and unpleasant the more gently she is treated.
Describes Rosamond's contrary nature.
“If she had done her work in the day, she would have slept through the terrors of the darkness, and awaked fearless; whereas now, she had in the storehouse of her heart a whole harvest of agonies, reaped from the dun fields of the night!”
Had Rosamond completed her chores during the day, she would have slept peacefully through the night; instead, her idleness led to a night of terror.
Contrasts the consequences of diligence versus negligence.