King Thrushbeard
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King Thrushbeard is a fairy tale collected by the Brothers Grimm, tale number 52.
It is Aarne-Thompson type 900.
[edit] Synopsis
A beautiful, but spoiled and shallow princess criticizes all her suitors. The last of her suitors is a young king with such a thick beard that she dubs him King Thrushbeard. The young king leaves in anger. Her father, exasperated and angry that she has scorned all her suitors, declares that the first man who comes to the palace the next day will become her husband. Meanwhile, an unknown stranger overhears the conversation.
When a young minstrel with a clean shaven face appears in the palace the next day, the king offers his daughter's hand in marriage. The minstrel disapproves of marrying the princess immediately as she does not look strong nor does she appear to be capable of any practical work. However, he notes the poor cannot be choosy and agrees to marry her. The princess opposes vehemently because he is a commoner, but the king has given his word. She marries the minstrel, who takes her away from the palace to his home.
As they travel to the minstrel's home, they pass by the fine lands and properties that belong to King Thrushbeard. They arrive at the minstrel's home, a house fit only for swine. The minstrel treats her as though she was a commoner and the princess is upset that she must now work for a living. The minstrel has her doing practical chores and selling pottery, all which she is completely inept at. Thoroughly annoyed at his new wife, he tells her the only job left her is to work as a servant at the nearby castle of a young king: King Thrushbeard.
The princess is initially ashamed that she must work in the palace of a suitor she so harshly scorned, but puts her pride aside when she realizes that her husband is depending on her to help out with the household. Eventually, she swallows the last of her pride and becomes so compassionate that she will throw scraps of food to the mice who live in their home because she realizes they are hungry too.
Just as her life is going smoothly, the princess discovers one day King Thrushbeard is getting married. She manages to stay out of the king's sight for the duration of the wedding feast until the head servant orders her to deliver the wedding cake. The princess holds the cake high enough to cover her face, but trips and ruins the cake. However, she worries about the punishment the king will dole upon her cook, who will in turn scold her husband for the princess' incompetence. She begins to cry.
However, much to the princess' surprise, someone helps her up. Dressed in finery is the minstrel, who smiles and asks why she is crying on her wedding day. The princess is shocked to discover the minstrel is really King Thrushbeard. She thanks him for teaching to be compassionate to others and asks before the whole court that he grow his beard once again. Her husband, from then on, is known by no other name but King Thrushbeard.
[edit] Appearances in other media
- Thrushbeard makes a cameo appearance in Bill Willingham's Fables comic book.
- The tale is retold in an episode of Grimm's Fairy Tale Classics under the title King Grizzlebeard.
