The Emperor’s New Clothes – Andersen
Once upon a time there lived an Emperor who loved fancy new clothes. He spent all his money to buy the latest fashions. He did not care about his army or the theater. The only thing he cared about was showing off his new outfits.
The Emperor had new clothes for every hour of the day! People would say, “The Emperor is getting dressed,” just like they would say “The king is holding court.”
The Emperor lived in a bustling city. Travelers from around the world came to visit each day.
One day two crafty men arrived in town. They pretended to be expert weavers. They told everyone they could make magical fabric only visible to those fit for their jobs.
“That fabric sounds incredible!” thought the Emperor. “With a suit made from it, I could spot who’s not up to their role. I must have this cloth at once!”
So the Emperor paid the weavers a fortune upfront to start right away. The weavers set up looms and acted busy. But they did not weave a single thread!
They asked for expensive silk and gold fabric. But they kept it all for themselves! They stayed late at the empty looms pretending to work hard.
The Emperor wondered how the cloth was turning out. But he felt nervous – the magic fabric would be invisible to anyone unfit for their role! Still, the Emperor did not think he had reason to worry. Yet he decided to send someone else to check on the weavers first.
Word spread about the magical cloth. Everyone wondered if their neighbors were bad at their jobs or just plain foolish!
“I’ll send my wise minister to inspect the fabric,” the Emperor decided. “He’ll know best, for he’s clever and understands his role well.”
The good minister entered the room where the weavers sat at the bare looms. “Oh my!” he thought, widening his eyes. “I see nothing at all!” Yet he stayed silent.
The weavers asked the minister to come closer. Did he not admire the patterns and colors, they asked, pointing to the empty looms. The poor minister tried his best, but saw nothing, for there was nothing to behold!
“Dear me,” he fretted, “could I really be so dense? I never imagined so! And no one must find out! Could I be unfit for my station? No, no, I cannot say I did not view the fabric.”
“Well, have you nothing to report?” said a weaver, pretending to work busily.
“Why, it is quite exquisite, so beautiful!” raved the minister, peering through his spectacles. “What captivating designs, such vivid hues! I will tell the Emperor I find the cloth most pleasing.”
“We are glad to hear that,” said the two weavers. They described the imaginary patterns and colors to the minister. The minister listened closely so he could repeat it all to the Emperor. And that is precisely what he did.
The swindlers asked for more money, silk, and gold fabric – which they pocketed, not weaving one thread. Yet they remained hard at work at the barren looms.
Soon the Emperor sent another honorable official to check the cloth and see if it was nearly finished. Like the minister, the official gawked but saw nothing, for there was nothing to detect!
“Is this not splendid cloth?” asked the weavers, displaying and expounding upon the imaginary designs – which were not really there!
“I am no fool,” thought the official. “So I must be unfit for my post! How peculiar! But I must not breathe a word of this to a soul.” And he sang praises of the invisible cloth, its dazzling patterns and vivid hues. “It is first-rate,” he reported back to the Emperor.
Everyone in town chatted about the magical cloth. At last the Emperor wished to behold it himself while still on the loom. With various officials, including the two who had already been, the Emperor visited the weavers pretending to toil away.
“Is it not sublime?” said the two officials who had seen the imaginary work before. “You must admire the palette and patterns!” And they gestured to the naked looms, as if the cloth were actually there.
“What is this?” thought the Emperor. “I see absolutely nothing! How dreadful! Am I a fool? Unfit to rule? That would be the worst scenario of all!”
“Yes, it has my full approval,” he stated aloud, beaming happily at the barren loom. He did not dare confess he saw no cloth at all.
All the officials chorused their praise. “Magnificent!” they proclaimed, though they saw no more than the Emperor. They urged him to debut his “new clothes” in the upcoming parade. “Superb, outstanding!” they raved, appearing utterly delighted. The swindlers were granted the title “Royal Court Weavers.”
The evening before the parade, the swindlers pretended to labor into the night, burning candles to craft the Emperor’s new garments. Everyone needed to think they were finishing the Emperor’s ensemble.
“The Emperor’s new raiment is complete!” the swindlers declared at last.
The Emperor arrived with his entourage. The swindlers pantomimed holding up the garments. “Here are the trousers!” “This is the tunic!” and so forth. “Light as a spider web – you’ll feel as if wearing nothing at all!”
“Indeed!” exclaimed the officials, though they did not espy a single stitch.
“If you would kindly disrobe, we shall help you don your new garb,” said the swindlers. The Emperor shed his clothes, and the swindlers pretended to dress him in the invisible outfit, piece by piece.
The Emperor peered in the mirror from all angles. “A perfect fit! Lovely designs! What splendid attire!” Everyone cheered, though there was nothing to remark.
The Master of Ceremonies announced the parade was ready.
“Does my apparel not fit superbly?” the Emperor inquired. “Mark how it flows!” He turned again to the mirror, so all would think him admiring his new garments.
The officials held up their hands as if grasping the imaginary train trailing behind the Emperor. They did not want anyone knowing they beheld absolute emptiness.
The Emperor marched in the parade below the ceremonial canopy. All who saw him shouted, “The Emperor’s new raiment is beyond equal! What a billowing train! A flawless fit!” No one dared admit they saw no clothes at all, for then they would be judged inept or dimwitted. Never had the Emperor’s costume won such acclaim.
“But he has nothing on!” exclaimed a child.
“Hark to the guileless voice of a child,” said the father, and the message spread through the crowd.
“Nothing at all!” the people finally cried.
The Emperor shivered, for it seemed they spoke the truth. Yet he resolved to continue the procession with poise.
The officials held their heads high carrying the imaginary train with utmost dignity. They would not let on that their hands clasped only air.
For the Emperor, the parade went on.
Here are some key lessons that can be drawn from the story “The Emperor’s New Clothes”:
Don’t let vanity cloud your judgment.
The Emperor was so obsessed with his appearance and showing off new outfits that he fell for the swindlers’ trick. His pride blinded him to the truth.
Appearances can be deceiving.
The con men tricked people through an elaborate ruse. No one wanted to seem unfit or stupid by admitting they didn’t see the imaginary clothes. This shows how easily appearances can fool people.
Peer pressure promotes conformism.
Everyone praised the “magnificent” new clothes because they were afraid of looking incompetent. This groupthink allowed the ridiculous charade to continue.
Honesty reveals the truth.
The innocent child pierced through the pretense by bravely stating the plain fact that the Emperor had no clothes on. Speaking truth to power can unravel false illusions.
Stand up to injustice.
The crowd realized the child was right and finally found the courage to declare the Emperor had nothing on. When citizens unite against corruption, they can instigate change.
Admit your mistakes.
The Emperor shivered when he heard the crowd’s truth, but resolved to continue the procession with poise. Owning up to errors with dignity can redeem your reputation.
Overall, the story warns about human flaws like vanity and conformity, and emphasizes virtues like honesty, courage, and accountability. It shows the power of an individual speaking truth to authority. The lessons teach people not to perpetuate collective lies or ignore injustice, but to think independently and take a stand when something is wrong.
The Emperor’s New Clothes – Andersen
Speaking truth to power can unravel false illusions. Stand up to injustice. The crowd realized the child was right and finally found the courage to declare the Emperor had nothing on. When citizens unite against corruption, they can instigate change. Admit your mistakes. The Emperor shivered when he heard the crowd’s truth, but resolved to continue the procession with poise. Owning up to errors with dignity can redeem your reputation. Overall, the story warns about human flaws like vanity and conformity, and emphasizes virtues like honesty, courage, and accountability. It shows the power of an individual speaking truth to authority. The lessons teach people not to perpetuate collective lies or ignore injustice, but to think independently and take a stand when something is wrong.
