The seven ravens – Grimms’ Fairy Tales
In a time of myths and magic, there lived a man blessed with seven sons, yet his heart yearned for a daughter. At long last, his wife bore him a girl, a fragile little being, small and delicate. Their joy was overwhelming, but the child’s frailty necessitated an immediate baptism. The father, anxious and hopeful, sent one son to fetch baptismal water from a spring. The other six, eager to share in the responsibility, accompanied him. In their rush to be of help, their jug slipped from their grasp and fell into the well. They were left helpless, unsure of what to do, and none dared to return home empty-handed.
Back home, as time ticked away without any sign of his sons, the father’s impatience boiled into frustration. “They must have forgotten their duty in favor of some childish game!” he grumbled. Fearing his precious daughter might be left unbaptized, anger took hold, and he spat out a thoughtless curse, “I wish they were all turned into ravens!” No sooner had the words left his mouth than a flurry of wings echoed above him. He looked up to see seven black ravens soaring into the sky.
Regret filled the parents’ hearts, but the curse could not be undone. Despite their sorrow for the loss of their sons, they found solace in their little girl, who blossomed into a strong, beautiful maiden. Her parents, afraid to burden her, kept her brothers’ fate a secret. But one day, she overheard whispers blaming her beauty for the misfortune of her brothers. Troubled, she confronted her parents, who finally revealed the sad truth. Her birth had been an innocent catalyst for her brothers’ fate, they explained, but the girl was consumed with guilt.
Determined to right the perceived wrong, she resolved to find her brothers and free them from their curse, whatever the cost. All she carried with her was a small ring, a keepsake from her parents, a loaf of bread to stave off hunger, a tiny pitcher of water to quench her thirst, and a small chair to rest her weary body. Thus, she embarked on her perilous journey into the wide world, fueled by love and a burning desire for redemption.
The maiden’s journey led her through the most far-flung corners of the world. She encountered the sun, a fearsome, scorching entity that threatened to consume her. Swiftly, she escaped its fiery reach and ventured towards the moon. But the moon was mercilessly cold and hostile, whispering chilling threats at her approach. Fleeing from the moon, she found solace among the stars. Each star was gentle and welcoming, sitting atop its own small chair. The Morning Star, the brightest of them all, bestowed upon her a chicken drumstick, saying, “Without this drumstick, you cannot open the Glass Mountain where your brothers dwell.”
With the drumstick safely wrapped in a cloth, she ventured forth until she reached the daunting Glass Mountain. But to her horror, when she unwrapped the cloth, she found it empty—the precious gift from the Morning Star was lost. With no key to the Glass Mountain, she felt desperation creeping in. Yet, driven by her resolve to save her brothers, she made a courageous sacrifice. She took a knife, cut off her little finger, and used it as a key to open the mountain.
Inside the Glass Mountain, a little dwarf greeted her, asking what she sought. “I’m looking for my brothers, the seven ravens,” she responded. The dwarf informed her that the raven lords were not home but invited her to wait for their return. As she waited, the dwarf served the ravens’ dinner—seven little plates and seven little glasses. The maiden tasted a bit from each plate and sipped from each glass. In the last glass, she deliberately dropped the ring she had carried with her from home.
Suddenly, the sound of wings flapping and a gust of wind filled the air, signaling the arrival of the ravens. The dwarf whispered, “The raven lords are coming home.” As the ravens arrived, they sought their respective plates and glasses, ready to feast. One by one, each raven noticed that someone had taken a bite from their plate and a sip from their glass. “A human has tasted my food,” they lamented, “A human has sipped my drink.”
When the seventh raven reached the bottom of his glass, he found the ring. Recognizing it as their parents’ ring, he expressed a heartfelt wish, “May our sister be here, for then we shall be free.” Hearing this, the maiden stepped out from her hiding place. At the sight of their sister, the raven curse was lifted, and the brothers were restored to their human forms. They embraced their long-lost sister, their hearts filled with joy. With laughter and tears of happiness, they returned home together, their bond stronger than ever before.
What principles and lessons can be learned from the above stories?
1. The Power of Love and Family: The story of “The Seven Ravens” is fundamentally about the power of familial love. Despite the hardships she faced, the sister persevered in her quest to save her brothers because of her love for them. This highlights the lengths to which one might go to protect and help family members, showing the strong bond that can exist within a family.
2. Courage and Determination: The sister’s journey to save her brothers was fraught with danger and difficulty. However, she didn’t give up. She had the courage to face the unknown and the determination to overcome the obstacles she encountered. This teaches the value of bravery and resilience in the face of adversity.
3. Consequences of Actions: The father, in a moment of anger, cursed his sons and turned them into ravens. He didn’t intend for his words to actually have effect, but they did, and he had to live with the consequences of his actions. This teaches the lesson that we should be mindful of our actions (and words), as they may have unintended consequences.
4. Redemption and Forgiveness: The sister’s journey can also be seen as a quest for redemption. She felt guilt for being the inadvertent cause of her brothers’ transformation, and set out to make things right. In the end, her efforts lead to their return to human form. This can teach a lesson about the power of redemption and forgiveness.
5. Resourcefulness and Ingenuity: Throughout her journey, the sister had to be resourceful and use her wits to overcome the challenges she faced. This highlights the importance of resourcefulness and ingenuity when facing difficult situations.
