The Hare's Bride or The Rabbit's Bride by the Grimm Brothers, illustrated by Gilbert Penrose James, is not a classic fairy tale. It's still an interesting story that can be read on several different levels. If you want to, of course.
A mother and a daughter have a garden with cabbage. A hare is coming every day and eats a lot. The mother notices how fast the cabbages are vanishing and fears they will stay without food. She sends her daughter to chase the hare away.
Her daughter goes to the garden and addresses the hare.
"Go away, go away," she says. "Leave our cabbage!"
"Sit on my little tail," he says. "Come with me to my little hut."
She doesn't want to go, and the hare leaves.
A mother and a daughter have a garden with cabbage. A hare is coming every day and eats a lot. The mother notices how fast the cabbages are vanishing and fears they will stay without food. She sends her daughter to chase the hare away.
Her daughter goes to the garden and addresses the hare.
"Go away, go away," she says. "Leave our cabbage!"
"Sit on my little tail," he says. "Come with me to my little hut."
She doesn't want to go, and the hare leaves.
The next day, he is back. He eats cabbages like nothing should wait for tomorrow.
The mother sees the hare and sends the girl to the garden. She goes and tries to chase the hare away.
"Go away, go away," she says. "Leave our cabbage!"
"Sit on my little tail," he says. "Come with me to my little hut."
Again, the girl rejects his proposal, and he goes home without her.
On the third day, he comes as usual. When the mother spots the annoying hare in the garden, she activates her daughter for one more time.
"Go away, go away," she says. "Leave our cabbage!"
"Sit on my little tail," he says. "Come with me to my little hut."
This time, the girl accepts the proposition and sits on his little tail. They come to his little home, and he says that they will marry.
He invites a lot of hares for wedding guests. A crow comes to be a parson and a fox to act as a clerk. The bride shall make a wedding feast. She starts cooking cabbage and millet seeds.
The mother sees the hare and sends the girl to the garden. She goes and tries to chase the hare away.
"Go away, go away," she says. "Leave our cabbage!"
"Sit on my little tail," he says. "Come with me to my little hut."
Again, the girl rejects his proposal, and he goes home without her.
On the third day, he comes as usual. When the mother spots the annoying hare in the garden, she activates her daughter for one more time.
"Go away, go away," she says. "Leave our cabbage!"
"Sit on my little tail," he says. "Come with me to my little hut."
This time, the girl accepts the proposition and sits on his little tail. They come to his little home, and he says that they will marry.
He invites a lot of hares for wedding guests. A crow comes to be a parson and a fox to act as a clerk. The bride shall make a wedding feast. She starts cooking cabbage and millet seeds.
Soon, she becomes sad. There is a large wedding party outside, and she is alone in the hare's hut. She locks herself in.
The hare knocks and asks for food. Guests are hungry.
The girl says nothing. She just weeps, and the hare leaves.
A bit later, the hare returns and asks again for food.
Again, she just weeps and says nothing. The hare leaves her alone.
Then, the girl puts her dress on the doll made of straw, puts a hat on her straw head, and gives her a spoon to stir the food on the stove. She leaves.
When the hare returns for one more time, nobody answers his demands. There is no weeping. He opens the door and strikes the doll. Her hat falls off, and he sees the girl is gone.
This is how the hare lost his bride.
The hare knocks and asks for food. Guests are hungry.
The girl says nothing. She just weeps, and the hare leaves.
A bit later, the hare returns and asks again for food.
Again, she just weeps and says nothing. The hare leaves her alone.
Then, the girl puts her dress on the doll made of straw, puts a hat on her straw head, and gives her a spoon to stir the food on the stove. She leaves.
When the hare returns for one more time, nobody answers his demands. There is no weeping. He opens the door and strikes the doll. Her hat falls off, and he sees the girl is gone.
This is how the hare lost his bride.
The Hare's Bride addresses pretty explicit themes from the relationships between men and women in a humorous, lighthearted way. The hare comes to the girl's garden as the boy comes under the girl's window. She tries to chase away, but he returns. He tries to seduce her with his 'little tail', but she refuses him. Twice. His persistence finally pays. She goes with him but is disappointed. Very soon, she feels alone, neglected, and exploited. She weeps, and he doesn't care why. He just wants food for himself and his guests. She has no guests. She moved completely into his world, and she doesn't like it.
When he doesn't get what he wants, he strikes her. Well, he strikes a doll because his bride has already left. One more disappointed girl in the world of bad relationships.
We are already familiar with the theme of the animal groom from Frog Prince, and we are already informed about the vulgar meaning of the word Rumpelstiltskin, which, in this case, is presented as a little tail. Compared to these two classic fairy tales, The Hare's Bride doesn't bring anything truly new. It lacks drama, ambiguous characters, and a bit more complex structure. This is probably the reason most people never hear of this story.
Nevertheless, it's still an important piece in the mosaic of understanding our culture, reflected by fairy tales and other stories for children (and adults).
Tell your friends about this post, and have a great day!
When he doesn't get what he wants, he strikes her. Well, he strikes a doll because his bride has already left. One more disappointed girl in the world of bad relationships.
We are already familiar with the theme of the animal groom from Frog Prince, and we are already informed about the vulgar meaning of the word Rumpelstiltskin, which, in this case, is presented as a little tail. Compared to these two classic fairy tales, The Hare's Bride doesn't bring anything truly new. It lacks drama, ambiguous characters, and a bit more complex structure. This is probably the reason most people never hear of this story.
Nevertheless, it's still an important piece in the mosaic of understanding our culture, reflected by fairy tales and other stories for children (and adults).
Tell your friends about this post, and have a great day!
