SINNLIGT STÖRDA FÖRR OCH NU I: TEXTER

Something I should have done during this summer:
Upload these two Swedish classical literary fragments about nuthouses and their inmates, to reflect upon:


I. Zachris Topelius. Ur Fritänkaren. Bok III Kapitel XIII, "De vises konung bland dârar".
Commentary: Like the Fools' Tower or "Gugelhupf" in Austria, the Danviken Nuthouse (the first in Sweden) was a product of the Enlightenment. The story takes place during the reign of Gustavus III (mid-to-late 18th century), and the King himself is coming to pay the nuthouse a visit, which leads to "Welcome Mr. Gustavus" style preparations.
 

På Danviken tycktes allt upp och nedvänt. Där
skurades och sopades för brinnkära livet. De arma
dårarna föstes ut på gården, för att man äntligen
måtte rengöra deras ohyggliga stall, där de levat som
boskap i spiltorna, och de betraktade med slöa, slocknade
ögon den härliga vårsolen. Härtills hade styrelsen  
föga bekymrat sig om denna de levandes grav, ehuru
där tillika var ett hospital för vanliga sjuka; allt var
förfallet, vanvårdat, avskyvärdt uselt, men nu skulle
allt i hast putsas upp: nu skulle graven få utseende
av en människoboning, stallet en skymt av ett barmhärtighetsverk.
Och fördenskull vädrades alla spiltor,
enris ströddes på alla golv, dårarna skurades rena och
kläddes som människor. Icke för det att man ansåg
dem förtjänta av en sådan omtanka – nyare tiders
mänskliga omsorg om dessa olycklige var då något okänt
– utan för det att ett bud hade slagit ned som en
åskvigg bland hospitalets sorglösa vårdare: konungen,
konungen själv, ville besöka Danviken i dag klockan tre
på eftermiddagen. Tiden var knapp att gottgöra årslång försummelse.
Man gjorde vad man förmådde, och så inbröt den
fruktade timme, när majestätets vagnar rullade in på
den stenlagda gården.
Konungen, åtföljd av sina adjutanter, sina läkare
och sin handsekreterare, besåg inrättningen med mycken
uppmärksamhet och yttrade skarpt sitt ogillande av dess
förfallna skick, som inga skurningar och inget enris
kunnat dölja för hans skarpsynthet. Föreståndaren fick
en skrapa, och befallning gavs att ofördröjligen inkomma
med ett förslag om inrättningens försättande i ett mera
ändamålsenligt skick.
Därefter gjorde hans majestät en rund genom dårarnas
celler och lät för sig beskriva de märkvärdigaste
bland dem. Där voro övergivna kvinnor, som i vansinne
mördat sina barn; ruinerade spelare, som höll faraobank
med spånor och kiselstenar; avsigkomna riksdagsmän,
som erbjöd sig att mot en daler skaffa hans majestät
pluralitet vid lantmarskalksvalet. En sade sig vara 
Luther, en annan påven, den tredje Antikrist, den fjärde en
Stormogul. En slaktare inbillade sig vara Fredrik II
av Preussen; en gymnasist sade sig vara Karl XII; en
gammal hovdam koketterade med sin solfjäder och lät
förstå att hon vore Pompadour; en stackars kryddkrämerska,
som läst romaner, förklarade sig vara Adalrik
och Göthilda; en skäggig sjöman hade fått i sitt huvud
att han var drottning Elisabeth av England; en bortblandad
magister bad konungen förhjälpa honom till hans tron,
eftersom han var pretendenten Stuart. Bland dessa
ruiner av mänskliga passioner och förvillelser fanns även
en gammal goddagspilt vid namn Calle Sager, som sade
sig vänta befordran, på den grund att han hade tur hos
fruntimmer och spelade flöjt.

Föreståndaren hostade och förklarade att besagda
person var inspärrad uti ett särskilt rum, tillika med
en annan dåre, emedan han ansågs farlig.  

I en avlägsen flygel av hospitalet var ett större
rum med järngallrade fönster och fördelat genom ett
plank uti tvenne hälfter. I vardera hälften bodde en
dåre, och båda kunde genom planket samtala med varandra.





II. Helena Nyblom. Ur "Glädjens lustfärd".

Commentary: This is an allegorical tale, thus, the place where it is set can be any country. However, the presence of an isolated nuthouse hints at an 18th- or 19th-century setting. In this story, Happiness descends upon Earth, only to be rejected by people of all the different social strata.

En stor byggnad, en lång, vit byggnad, omgiven av träd och blomster-
anläggningar. Allting där inne såg glatt och ljust ut, och i
hopp att nu få veta något gott, frågade hon en av de förbigående:

»Vad är namnet på detta palats? Och vilken mäktig
furste bor där?»

Den tilltalade såg på Glädjen.

 »Vet du inte, att det
där är hospitalet? Där, var de sinnessvaga och vanvettiga
sitter inspärrade.»

 »Det är människor,

som förlorat bruket av sitt förstånd genom att ha levat i
allt för stor sorg eller allt för mycket glädje, och vilkas
själsljus nu är släckt.»

»Vad är det för ord du talar?» ropade Glädjen vred.
»Tror du, att någon människa mister sin själ genom att leva
i glädje? Frosseri och dryckenskap, lättsinne och ett djuriskt
liv, kallar du det glädje? Skämmas skulle du, att missbruka
Glädjens lyckliggörande namn!»

Glädjens ögon tindrade så vredgat, att mannen tog av
sig hatten.

»Jag ber så mycket om ursäkt,» sade han, »men när
folk dricker och lever om, tills de bli galna, kallar vi det
här på jorden för att roa sig.»

THE THEMES OF OTHELLO

Analysis of the military tragedy as a documentary:

OTHELLO RETOLD TYRION LANNISTER STYLE

Long story short: SHAKESPEARE LOVED MISCOMMUNICATION:

EAH FANON - NAMES OF FAIRYTALE CHARACTERS

For those who are fond of Ever After High, my fanseries thereof, and different fairytale characters... here are the names of the featured fairytale characters in different languages:

CHARACTERS

The Clever Princess
Spanish: la princesa inteligente
German: die kluge Prinzessin
French: la princesse sage et savante (chez Dumas) / la princesse intelligente
Hungarian: az okos királykisasszony

The Little Personage (The Clever Prince)
Spanish: el personajito (el príncipe inteligente)
German: die kleine Person (der kluge Prinz)
French: le petit bonhomme (chez Dumas) / le petit personnage (le prince intelligent)
Hungarian: a fiatal legényke (az okos királyfi)

The Robber Girl / Robber Maiden
Spanish: la pequeña bandolera
German: das Räubermädchen
French: la fille des brigands
Hungarian: a kis rablóleány

Alice Liddell
The same name in all languages featured.
Except in Spanish: Alicia Liddell.

The White Rabbit
Spanish: el Conejo Blanco
German: das weisse Kaninchen
French: le Lapin Blanc
Hungarian: a Fehér Nyuszi

The Mad Hatter
Spanish: el Sombrerero Loco
German: der verrückte Hutmacher / der wütende Hutmacher
French: le Chapelier Fou
Hungarian: az Őrült Kalapos / a Bolond Kalapos

The March Hare
Spanish: la Liebre de Marzo
German: der Märzhase
French: le Lièvre de Mars
Hungarian: a Kerge Nyúl

The Cheshire Cat
Spanish: el Gato Risón
German: die Grinsekatze
French: le Chat du Cheshire
Hungarian: Vigyor Kandúr

The Queen of Hearts
Spanish: la Reina de Corazones
German: die Herzkönigin
French: la Reine de Coeur
Hungarian: a Szív-Királynő

The Knave of Hearts
Spanish: la Sota de Corazones
German: der Herzbube
French: le Valet de Coeur
Hungarian: a Szív-Felső

Tweedledee & Tweedledum
Spanish: Tweedledee y Tweedledum
German: Zwiddeldum und Zwiddeldei
French:  Tweedle-Dee et Tweedle-Dum
Hungarian: Subidam és Subidu

Captain Hook
Spanish: Capitán Garfio
German: Captain Hook
French: Capitaine Crochet
Hungarian: Hook kapitány

Herr Drosselmeyer
The same name in all languages featured, except in:
Hungarian: Drosselmeyer úr

Puss in Boots
Spanish: Gato con Botas
German: der gestiefelte Kater
French: le Chat Botté
Hungarian: Ciszmás kandúr

The Art Professor at the University
Spanish: el profesor de Estética de la Universidad / el profesor de arte de la Universidad / el profesor de la Facultad de Bellas Artes
German: der Professor der schönen Künste an der Universität / der Kunstprofessor der Universität 
French: le professeur d’art à l’Université
Hungarian: a művészetek egyetemi professzora

Note: University = Universidad = Universität = Université = egyetem. "Facultad" is related.

The one whose armour was inlaid with gilt flowers
Spanish: uno cuya armadura tenía en incrustación flores doradas / uno, cuya armadura llevaba incrustadas flores doradas
German: einer, dessen Rüstung mit goldenen Blumen inkrustiert war 
French: un, dont la cuirasse était émaillée de fleurs d'or
Hungarian: egy harmadik katona, aranyvirágokkal díszített vértben

The Lieutenant
Spanish: el teniente
German: der Leutnant
French: le lieutenant
Hungarian: a hadnagy

The Colonel
Spanish: el coronel
German: der Oberst
French: le colonel
Hungarian: az ezredes

Note: these three, and the three ones below, are in the stories known only by their ranks.

Court Lady
Spanish: dama de la corte
German: Hofdame
French: dame de la Cour
Hungarian: udvarhölgy

The Loveliest of the Queen's Maids-of-Honour / A beautiful girl
Spanish: la más bella de las damas de honor de la Reina / una bella muchacha // la más bella de las damas de honor de la Reina / una bella muchacha // la más bella dama de honor de la Reina / una preciosa joven / la muchacha // la más bella de las camareras de la reina / una linda muchacha
German: die reizendste der königlichen Ehrendamen / ein hübsches Mädchen / die Dame // die lieblichste der Ehrendamen der Königin / ein schönes Mädchen
French:  la plus belle des demoiselles d’honneur de la Reine / une belle jeune fille
Hungarian: a királyné legkedvesebb udvarhölgye / egy szép fiatal lány / a lány

Her lover
Spanish: su novio / su amante / su amado /su prometido
German: ihrem Liebsten / ihrem Geliebten
French: son amoureux
Hungarian: szerelmese / a férfi

Red Riding Hood
Spanish: Caperucita (Roja)
German: Rotkäppchen
French: Petit Chaperon Rouge
Hungarian: Piroska

Goldilocks
Spanish: Ricitos de Oro
German: Goldlöckchen
French: Boucle d'Or
Hungarian: Aranyfürtöcske

Frau Holle
Spanish: Señora / Doña Holle
German: Frau Holle
French: Dame Holle
Hungarian: Holle anyó

KINGDOMS / NATIONS
Ever After Land
Spanish: País de Siempre Jamás
German: Ever After Land
French: Pays des Contes
Hungarian: Mesevilág

Lilienstiel
Spanish: Lilienstiel
German: Lilienstengel
French: Tige-de-Lis
Hungarian: Liliomszár

Wonderland
Spanish: País de las Maravillas
German: Wunderland
French: Pays des Merveilles
Hungarian: Csodaország

Neverland
Spanish: Nunca Jamás
German: Nimmerland
French: Pays Imaginaire
Hungarian: Sohaország

Frau Holle's underworld

Spanish: Inframundo de Doña Holle
German: Frau-Holle-Welt
French: Monde souterraine de Dame Holle
Hungarian: Holle anyó külvilága

COMMUNITIES AND OTHER PLACES
Book End Village
Spanish: Érase una Vez
German: Book End
French: Village de Book End
Hungarian: Fusselvéle falva

Bosforo University

Spanish: Universidad de Bósforo
German: Universität Bosforo
French: Université de Bosforo
Hungarian: Ökörváradi Egyetem

Lügenmaulberg University
Spanish: Universidad de Lügenmaulberg
German: Universität Lügenmaulberg / Uni L-berg
French: Université de Lügenmaulberg
Hungarian: Lügenmaulbergi Egyetem

CULTURE

Unbirthday party

Spanish: fiesta de no cumpleaños
German: Nichtsgeburtstag
French: non-anniversaire
Hungarian: születéstelennap / nemszületésnap

Court-ball // State-ball
Spanish: baile de corte / baile de la corte / baile que se celebra en la corte
German: Hofball
French: bal de la cour // bal officiel
Hungarian: udvari bál

Legacy Day
Spanish: Día del Destino
German: Schicksalstag
French: Jour de l'Héritage
Hungarian: Örökség napja

Royals // Rebels
Spanish: Reales // Rebeldes
German: Royals // Rebels
French:  Royaux // Rebelles
Hungarian: Előkelők // Zendülők 

True Hearts Day
Spanish: Día de los Corazones Sinceros
German: Herzenstag
French: Jour des Coeurs Sincères
Hungarian: Tiszta szívek napja

Late Bards' Alliance
Spanish: Asociación de Difuntos Bardos / Alianza de Difuntos Bardos
German: Verbund seligen Skalden
French: Société des Défunts Troubadours
Hungarian: Megboldogult Költők Köztársasága

ARC WORDS


"How wonderful the stars are, and how wonderful is the power of love!"
Spanish: ¡Qué maravillosas son las estrellas!, ¡y qué maravilloso es el poder del amor! / Qué hermosas son las estrellas, ¡y cuán prodigioso es el poder del amor! / -¡Qué hermosas son las estrellas y qué poderosa es la fuerza del amor! / ¡Qué hermosas son las estrellas y qué maravillosa es la fuerza del amor!
German: Wie wunderschön sind doch die Sterne, und wie wunderbar ist die Macht der Liebe! / Wie wundervoll sind die Sterne, und wie wundervoll ist die Macht der Liebe!
French: Combien les étoiles sont belles, et combien est puissante la force de l’amour !
Hungarian: Milyen csodálatosak a csillagok, és milyen csodálatos a szerelem hatalma!

"Why should I not be married?" (song)
Spanish: ¿Y si me buscara un marido?
French: Il est temps de me marier (chez Dumas) / Pourquoi ne pas me marier?
German: "Weshalb sollt' ich wohl heiraten!"/"Warum sollte ich mich nicht verheiraten?" / "Weshalb sollte ich mich nicht verheiraten?"
Hungarian: Férjhez megyek én, miért is ne mennék!

"How good men/ (the) people are!"
Spanish: ¡Qué buenas son las personas!
German: Wie gut sind die Menschen!
French: Oh! que les hommes sont bons dans le vaste monde! (chez Dumas) / Comme il y a des êtres humains qui sont bons!
Hungarian: Milyen jók az emberek!

"Off with their heads!"
Spanish: ¡Que les corten la cabeza!
German: Ihren Kopf ab! / Ihre Köpfe ab!
French: Qu'on lui coupe la tête!
Hungarian: Üssétek le a fejét!

TSQ - IV FRENCH ABRIDGED RETELLING

La Reine des Neiges - IV- Prince et princesse
Adapté de Joan Mompart

Dans ce royaume, habitait une princesse d'une intelligence extraordinaire. Et
elle eut envie de se marier, mais voilà ! Elle voulait un mari aussi intelligent qu’elle ! Ce qui est facile à comprendre n’est ce pas. Pendant deux jours des garçons s’étaient pressés pour se présenter à la princesse, mais aucun n’était assez brillant d’après elle. Le troisième jour arriva un garçon sans cheval ni voiture, il monta d'un pas décidé jusqu'au château, ses yeux brillaient, il avait de beaux cheveux longs, et ses vêtements étaient bien pauvres.

Plein d'assurance, le jeune garçon s'avança jusque devant la princesse. Il était décidé et charmant, il n'était pas venu en prétendant mais seulement pour juger de l'intelligence de la princesse… il se trouve qu’il l’a trouvé remarquable. Et qu’elle l’a trouvé très bien aussi.

par les grandes allées du jardin enneigé.
par le petit escalier jusqu’à la chambre à coucher de la princesse.
Au milieu de la chambre, il y avait deux lits qui ressemblaient à des lis, l'un était blanc et la princesse y était couchée, l'autre était rouge et… un garçon y dormait.
Le prince intelligent!



Ada Bonora - 2012 :
L’histoire du prince et de la princesse évoque un autre point de vue sur le problème des
apparences : la princesse souhaite épouser non pas un prince élégant ou beau mais un
prince aussi intelligent qu’elle. Elle a trop peur de s’ennuyer avec un homme qui ne serait
pourvu que de belles manières et de prestance.

LORAS TYRELL INSPIRATION?

Russian illustrations of the character. Medieval armour on the left, Renaissance armour on the right.

A rather secondary character in an Oscar Wilde story, a royal guard with very little storytime, is described as "one whose armour was inlaid with gilt flowers". 

Surely he must be an officer, given the detail of his attire (the Penguin Readers version omits any reference to his armour and calls him "an officer") 

He whose armour was inlaid with gilt flowers (although the flowers aren't much prominent in this depiction), Craig Russell

The one whose armour was inlaid with gilt flowers.

A thesis highlights that this is "splendid armour": ... the new guard’s splendid armour ... and tells of his action as he appears;’. . . inlaid with gilt flowers,'
"The same guard, comes forward. He is reintroduced with exactly the same syntactic structure as before ...
'. . . whose armour was inlaid with gilt flowers,'"


Possible inspiration for Loras Tyrell's character?

I'm planning to use this quote in my Snow Queen story "The Queen Beyond the Wall":

And then, through the crowd, she saw a blond breastplated knight from behind, golden locks cascading down the nape of his neck all the way to his back, loosely tied together with a green ribbon. She walked quickly towards him, her heart throbbing with excitement. There was so much they had to talk about!
Finally, the maiden stood a few steps away from him. She called his name out loud: "Jaime!" Suddenly, he turned around and stepped towards her... It wasn't Jaime!
The young knight did resemble Jaime, and he was certainly dashing as well: his hair was curly and a darker shade of blond, and his eyes were a more hazel colour. His armour was inlaid with gilt flowers.
From a distance, King Renly, dressed in gold and green, a dark strip of little hairs shading his upper lip, came towards them and asked what the matter was. He was doubtlessly dashing and tall, a true Baratheon. His bride Margaery, dark-haired as well and dressed in a lavender gown, followed him closely. She was petite and beautiful, teal-eyed and lilywhite with rosy lips.
And then, Brienne bowed before the royals and asked if she could explain the reason for that in private. And all four of them gathered in a grand hall inlaid with tapestries of great battles, where Brienne told them her tale: how much she loved Jaime, how much he had changed, how coldly they had parted... even the fact that Storm's End was under siege, and that she had been kept captive in the camp where heretics were burned.
"Oh! So you're a girl? No matter, we'll keep your secret. If discovered, it may lead to unpleasant consequences later on in your life."
"I don't think Storm's End will hold any longer... Our army is already prepared to retake our fallen lands! Nevertheless... having come from as far as Tarth... that's a feat of daring-do! Shouldn't we try to help you?", His Grace replied, with a wistful smile on his heart-shaped face.
The royals ordered that a supper should be prepared for Brienne. And thus, she had supper in the banquet hall where the bannermen had already supped, with the King and Queen and their Lord Commander (the maiden learned that he was Loras Tyrell, the Queen's youngest brother and the King's closest friend) for company. So, Brienne was served a cool fruit soup, peaches in honey, and fire-plum mousse, washed down with blood-red, sweet summer wine. She told the royals all about Jaime and more about her quest, and she thanked them for all of their kindness, though the words she could find were few.
No longer did she address them as His and Her Grace: they told her she was free to call them Renly and Margaery. And to call Loras by first name, without the "Ser", as well.
After supper, she was led into the Lord Commander's elegant bedroom and dressed in a fine negligé of crimson silk. Ser Loras courteously offered her to stay in his own bed: he would spend the whole night in the nearby Royal Bedchamber, watching for his crowned sister and brother-in-law.
He said he could do no more.
As Brienne wrapped herself in the soft mint-green brocade bedsheets and drew the golden velvet bed-curtains, she thought of the kindness she had encountered at the court. That night, sweet dreams came to her: she was leaving Highgarden, leaving the Reach, she came into an open field in more northern lands, a rider galloped towards her... it was Jaime, this time, no longer cold or detached, offering her his hand, and both of them riding away past holdfasts and cots. But it was only a dream, and thus, it faded away as soon as she awoke.
The King of the Reach himself peeped in through her bed-curtains, his attendants bringing forth an armour of cobalt blue steel, inlaid with bluebells and forget-me-nots.
So she was dressed in this blue armour, that sparkled on her reflection in the mirror that covered a whole panel of the bedroom wall.
As for Edric, he had eaten supper and then slept with the army officers, having already enlisted in the ranks of the Reach.
For breakfast, there were spiced honey cakes and various fruit pies, served with clear lager and with mint tea. The maiden sat to the left side of Queen Margaery, and the Lord Commander to the right side of King Renly, both royals sitting on the thrones that presided the banquet-hall table.
They talked about the invasion of Storm's End, and Brienne learned that the invaders' leader was also a Baratheon, one of Renly's older brothers, with whom he had broken ties long time ago. The vast army of the Reach had been already trained and prepared for the upcoming conflict.
The royals offered to have a notice about Jaime's whereabouts sent throughout the Seven Kingdoms, and detachments to carry on the inquiry Westeros-wide while the rest of the army was fighting the war.
Renly offered Brienne to enlist in his ranks and join them at the war front, where she could perform gallant feats, but she only asked for a horse, new weapons, and provisions to carry on her search for Jaime.
And thus, right before she crossed the garden gate, she beheld a white gelding, caparisoned in cobalt steel as well, with a green silk saddlecloth, on which the embroidered golden rose of Tyrell and stag of Baratheon shone brightly as stars. From the saddlecloth hung a fine longsword, with the sun and moon of Tarth on its hilt, in a finely ornate scabbard, aside from a fine mint-green silken bag, also embroidered with the Tyrell rose, containing a glass canteen full of summer wine and a dozen journey-cakes.
King Renly and Ser Loras helped her get on her steed, embraced her, and wished her good luck. So did the rest of the royal family. Even Edric came to say farewell, for he was going to war. The young bannerman looked like a child Renly in his breastplate and doublet. He had been given permission to be part of her escort, and thus, they should have a little more time together
"Farewell! Farewell!" said Loras and Renly, and Queen Margaery as well. Looking back at Highgarden for every now and then, the maiden crossed the garden gates with the detachment she had been given for an escort. At the borders of the Reach, the other riders departed to join the army, as Brienne took Edric in her arms and they kissed each other for maybe the last time.
"Farewell!", both said in tears, for maybe they wouldn't see each other anymore. Then, Edric departed with the rest of the riders, leaving Brienne on her own, riding up north. Maybe Jaime had joined the Night's Watch to escape his father's expectations. If so, she was most likely to meet him at the icy Wall where the known world came to an end.
So, she led her steed into more Northern lands. At the first inn, she had to exchange that horse for a dun mare after having had breakfast and spent the night there, unaware that there were also scoundrels at that very tavern, and that she'd better be careful with the rarities she carried.


one whose armour was inlaid with gilt flowers

einer, dessen Rüstung mit goldenen Blumen inkrustiert war 

uno cuya armadura tenía en incrustación flores doradas

uno, cuya armadura llevaba incrustadas flores doradas

un, dont la cuirasse était émaillée de fleurs d'or

egy harmadik katona, aranyvirágokkal díszített vértben

en man, vars rustning var prydd med blommor i guld

algú amb l'armadura encastada de flors daurades


Mivel hogy nem szép, nem is hasznos többé – jelentette ki a művészetek egyetemi professzora.
--Lo que carece de belleza es inútil --afirmó el profesor de Estética de la Universidad.

 a lo que le sigue una crítica ante la afirmación del profesor de estética según la cual lo que carece de belleza es inútil; De este modo, al amor en el dolor se le suma la idea de la muerte que cuestiona una vez más el esteticismo y la utilidad. Más que una crítica a la afirmación de la acción sin interés, cuestiona el sentido del común.

MOTIFS IN THE FOURTH STORY OF THE SNOW QUEEN

Summaries:

"a princess of surpassing cleverness and beauty":

The Princess

The princess is a supplementary character who only appears in one of the chapters of the Snow Queen story - but she is nonetheless an admirable and inspirational female character, whose story hints at a much longer and grander untold narrative.

"In this kingdom in which we are now sitting, lives a Princess, who is so immoderately clever; but then she has read all the newspapers that are in the world, read and forgotten them again, so clever is she. Lately she was sitting on her throne, when she began to sing, and the theme of her song was "Why should I not marry?" "Well there is something in that, she said, and so she determined to get married; but she must have a husband who knew how to answer when spoken to, not one who could only stand there and look grand, for that is too stupid."

What a fantastic introduction to a character! And what a refreshing change from the fairytale standard of princesses being first and foremost beautiful! The Princess decides on her own that she wants to get married, and she then goes on to specify what kind of a husband she is looking for - one who is intelligent, unabashed by royalty, unafraid of her power and one who "feels at home' with her.

The meeting of the princess and her husband-to-be:

"He was gay (merry) and well behaved, but had not come at all to pay court to the Princess, but only to hear how clever she was. He had every reason to be satisfied with her, and she no less so with him."

Again, what a refreshing subversion of the princess trope! The princess' chosen husband is bright-eyed and merry; a poorly dressed "little person" - a wanderer with creaking boots and a knapsack on his back. No dragonslayer he - but one who can match the princess' intellect, rather than impress her with feats of arms.

As well as being clever, the Princess is later shown to be generous and sympathetic, willing to help Gerda into her new golden carriage herself without formality. Though her part is small in the overall story, and she and the Prince go away to "live in foreign places", one feels sure that such a great character must be the heroine of her own legend.

THE SNOW QUEEN STORY SUMMARY

4. The Prince and Princess 

In the kingdom there lived a very clever Princess. The Princess decided she should get married, but she wanted to find someone who wouldn’t just stand around and be boring, or be intimidated by the grand castle. She wanted someone who was clever and cheerful. Many people came for her hand but they all became frightened and tongue-tied when they entered the castle. 

Then a young man came with long hair, intelligent eyes and poor clothes. He strode in to the palace and wasn’t at all shy. He was bright and interested in learning the Princess’ wisdom. They liked each other right away and he became the Prince. 

...into the palace that night...

Shadows along the wall swished past and  it was the dreams of the Prince and Princess. They came to the bedroom and the Prince and Princess were each in a bed that looked like a lily.

...the leaves to peek at the Prince, and seeing his red neck...

...the dreams swept through the room, he woke and turned his head...

The Princess woke and asked what was the matter.

...how kind human beings were!  In the morning the Prince and Princess gave lovely clothes to wear and asked to stay with them. They gave a muff and boots and a coach of gold with coachmen and horsemen. Then they waved goodbye...

...asked her about the Prince and Princess. “They’re traveling in foreign lands,” said the robber girl.

Fascinating female character: a princess who is so clever that “she has read all the newspapers in the whole world, and has forgotten them again.” This princess decides to get married, but explicitly states that her prince will be someone intelligent and articulate, a man “who knew how to give an answer when he was spoken to--not one who looked only as if he were a great personage, for that is so tiresome.” She ends up choosing a suitor who had no intention of marrying her, but merely entered the castle in order to hear the princess’ wisdom. She chooses a husband who admires her brain, someone who, unlike the actual suitors, did not seek to win her but merely to hear her and enjoy her intellect.

Khac Ti Ang Thuyet, June 2014

Thesis on Andersen female characters (Excerpt)

...has supposedly married a clever and beautiful princess...

She (Gerta) is helped by the prince and princess, who give her a carriage and horse and a little pair of boots so that she might drive out again into the wide world...

the princess gives Gerda a pair of boots and a muff, a carriage and a horse, together with a coachman, footman and outrider, facilitating her journey;

...a clever princess who gave her (Gerta) a golden carriage and a horse.

These stories provide

all we need in the way of awesome images of very strong female characters, whether

good or evil: in the Fourth Story, the clever princess. They are very free in their

world. They are determined and strong-willed. They are able to make choices and

decide their own destinies. They can do what they like to make their own dreams

come true.

The princess is a supplementary character who only appears in one chapter of the

Snow Queen story, yet she is an admirable and inspirational female character. She is

clever and intellectual.

 In this kingdom where we are now, there lives a Princess who is 

very clever. She has read all the newspapers in the world and forgotten them 

again, so clever is she. One day she was sitting on her throne, which is not such 

an amusing thing to do either, they say. And she began humming a tune, which 

happened to be: “Why should I not be married?”[...]. And she made up her mind 

to marry, if she could find a husband who had an answer ready when a question 

was put to him, not one who could only stand there and look grand, for that is too 

stupid. 

 (Andersen, 1997, 226)

This is a refreshingly different way to introduce a character, and we find nothing so

witty, ironic, sophisticated in Grimms’ fairy tales' (18)

emphasis on a fairy-tale princess’ beauty rather than, as here, her intelligence and wit

– though in fact we do not know what this princess looks like. She decides on her own

that she wants to get married, and she then goes on to consider what kind of husband

she is looking for – one who is intelligent, “unabashed of royalty,” and who “feels at

home with her” (Andersen, 1997, 126). The man actually chosen by the princess is not

a prince but a wanderer, one with creaking boots and a knapsack on his back.

However, he is “a picture of good looks and gallantry, and then he had not come with

any idea of wooing the Princess, but simply to hear her wisdom, he admired her just

as much as she admired him” (Andersen, 1997, 129). He does not slay any dragon, but

he can match the princess’s intellect with his own rather than impressing her with

victories. Just as our looks may fade; our wealth and status might also be diminished:

only our intellect and wisdom can last. The princess is not only clever; she is generous

and sympathetic as well. She is willing to help Gerda with her new golden carriage.

At the end of the tale, the princess and her husband go away “to live in foreign

countries”. They are free, totally not bound by the traditional social roles.

(18) This would be true even if we only heard the author, or the Raven, or the princess speaking there, but in fact we hear all three in this complex passage that combines three narrative-discursive levels. 

Just like the princess, the robber girl is a very inspirational and admirable

female character. Her reward is her “complete freedom”.


ROSANA DA SILVA SANTOS, 2014

A história de uma princesa que queria casar-se e para conseguir tal feito os candidatos a noivo deveriam falar bem e agradar-lhe. A princesa gostou de um rapaz.
... agora com bons trajes, botas e uma carruagem que lhe foram presenteados pelo príncipe e pela princesa.

Na quarta história, sobre um príncipe e uma princesa, o ambiente é outro e o tempo passou. Já é inverno. No conto “A rainha da neve”, o espaço físico se altera à medida que a ação se desenvolve. O espaço, além de marcar, geograficamente, o local onde ocorre a ação, vincula-se ao espaço psicológico das protagonistas.
A história de uma princesa que queria casar-se com alguém que, além de boa aparência, soubesse responder quando ela lhe falasse, pois considerava-se muito inteligente.
O noivo escolhido para desposá-la.
No terceiro dia de apresentação dos pretendentes, surgiu um rapaz com a seguinte descrição: “[...] um sujeito miúdo, sem cavalo, nem carro, marchando, audacioso e confiante, até o palácio. Os olhos dele brilhavam. Tinha lindos cabelos compridos, mas vinha pobremente trajado” (HANSSEN, 1981, p. 281). Além disso, trazia às costas uma grande mochila e suas botinas rangiam.
Outro aspecto mencionado relacionava-se à inteligência do candidato.
No caminho para os aposentos reais, passam os sonhos dos nobres. O sonho é outro elemento importante na narrativa.
 Nos aposentos, Gerda encontra o príncipe e a princesa, cada qual em suas camas,
e conta-lhes sua história. O príncipe dá sua cama para a menina descansar. Ela tem seu segundo monólogo interior: “Como são bons os homens e animais!” (HANSSEN, 1981, p. 284).
No dia seguinte, o príncipe e a princesa presenteiam-na com vestido, sapatos e uma bela carruagem com cocheiros e criados.
dando início à quinta história. Esta história, quinta, é sobre a filhinha dos salteadores e inicia-se descrevendo uma estrada escura onde a carruagem brilha como ouro e chama a atenção de salteadores que
matam o cocheiro, os criados...
De trenó, eles partem para a floresta e encontram a filha dos salteadores, que lhes conta que o príncipe e a princesa viajaram para o estrangeiro.
 As personagens secundárias não saem de seu núcleo temático.

Themes

• According to fairytale scholar: "knowledge and fulfilment"
• Wish fulfilment: all of the themes listed below.
• Knowledge/power of the mind (intelligent princess seeks her intellectual equal, who happens to be a young student or subaltern officer: her social inferior, but as clever and learned as she is), as opposed to the physical one of wealth and appearances.
• Wealth and elegance (the castle/palace setting as a whole, mirrors, silver, gold, chandeliers, glass, courtiers and servants, candied fruit and gingerbread, silks and velvet)
• Optimism / belief in all humankind as good ("How good men/people are [in the wide world] [after all]!"), as opposed to alleged coldness and classism of the higher strata.
• Purity, both sexual/physical (glass ceiling, white lily-bed, pearl on the throne) and mental (the royals remain good, uncorrupted by wealth and power).
• Appearance vs. reality, prejudice, appearance as not all that matters:  L’histoire du prince et de la princesse évoque un autre point de vue sur le problème des apparences : la princesse souhaite épouser non pas un prince élégant ou beau mais un prince aussi intelligent qu’elle. Elle a trop peur de s’ennuyer avec un homme qui ne serait pourvu que de belles manières et de prestance. (Ada Bonora, 2012)
• Goodness directed by knowledge: a value exemplified before by Shakespearean character Cerimon: In the worthy Cerimon, who restored Thaisa to life, we are instructed how goodness directed by knowledge, in bestowing benefits upon mankind, approaches to the nature of the gods. (Mary Lamb, early nineteenth century).

Motifs

• Versaillesque/Baroque royal court: elegant and precious setting, with strict rules and class differences.
• Intelligent princess: at the start: learned lady / bluestocking [owns many books / reads all newspapers in the world / speaks Latin easily]
• [Princess raised as a boy, being heir to the throne]
• [Princess is golden blond / red-haired / dark-haired]
• [Princess is eighteen years old]
• Intelligence isolation / ivory tower / ennui
• "Why shouldn't I marry?": Tired of loneliness / yearning for a companion
• Partner should be both good-looking and as clever and learned as she is [also a good strategist/warrior, not only dashing and clever: "not one like the most, of those who can only wear a uniform, smile, and always say yes to her, but a real prince: dashing, brave, intelligent, able to encourage the arts during peacetime, and to lead the army in case of war: long story short, one like she saw none upon looking at all the thrones on Earth"] (not only look good: that would be tiresome. According to Ada Bonora, she is too afraid of getting bored with a partner only dashing and courteous)
• [Princess does not despair of finding what she wishes: decided as she is not to accept an arranged marriage and to find, in no matter which rank, a spouse worthy of her]
• [Informs her advisors in the throne room, then her whole court in the palace gardens, of her decision]
• Riddle princess/engagement challenge: battle of wits
• Engagement challenge (battle of wits) won by princess's social inferior
• Proclamation with monogramme/initials and border of hearts [border of roses] [in Latin, to every university in three kingdoms]
• Engagement challenge open to every handsome young man in the kingdom [in three kingdoms] [between the ages of twenty and twenty-five], who is free to appear at court and speak to princess, who will give her hand to the most eloquent one [to the one who, according to her, has got the most intellectual and moral qualities]
• Crowds of young men show up at court, but no success on the first or second day
• Royal guards in blue and silver
• Valets in gold brocade
• Halls of mirrors, lighted brilliantly
• Chandeliers
• Diplomats, courtiers, and state councillors used as servants, carrying golden tableware barefoot
• Throne with oversized pearl [completely covered in pearls]
• Courtiers lined up around princess, according to rank: the lower rank, the further from throne and the haughtier look
• [All suitors unlike the last one are learned men: scholars, alchemists, theologians... in their best black robes of academic silk]
• Most suitors can speak well on the street and in a lecture hall, but at court... led by greed/ambition, and/or impressed by their surroundings, they get Stendhal syndrome: can't speak in throne room, and only echo the last words the princess has said: they are rejected and sent away [first impression lets princess know what to expect of them]
• [Once outside the palace, they regain speech, and all of them say at unison what they should have said to princess: chaos ensues, "tower of Babel" scenario]
• [Line of "stupid bourgeois/townsfolk" at the garden gate, waiting for the suitors to leave, laugh at their disappointment]
• Young student/lieutenant, comes on foot wearing faded and worn clothes: modest, immune to Stendhal syndrome, sympathetic to people at court
• [This suitor is dark-haired / fair-haired]
• [This suitor can read / speak more than one language]
• [This suitor is clean shaven]
• This suitor wears boots [shoes] that creak loudly [ink on his fingers]
• Courtiers with dishes: barefoot
• Lowest ranking pages: slippers
• "He had not come to woo, but to hear her cleverness": interested in her mind rather than her beauty or fortune: succeeds.
• [Garden gate fastened with a chain]

• Garden avenue/promenade, falling leaves [leaves that crunch beneath feet]: autumn (November)
• [Ice sculptures on frozen garden fountains]
• [Bust of Minerva / Athena on stairs]
• Dreams taking the form of big-game hunt / Wild Hunt
• [Dreams taking the form of young lady in coffin, dressed in white and crowned with white roses, surrounded by mourners: dread of princess's death?]
• Dreams identified as such, come to convey the thoughts of courtiers [castle-dwellers] towards pleasure [or sorrow]
• Hall decked in pink satin with artificial flowers [bouquets made of gold and silver]
• Each hall more magnificent than the other [hall of silk tapestries, hall of oversized paintings, hall of mirrors with chequered marble floor] [dazzling splendour]
• Bedchamber [most magnificent room in the palace]
• [Estrade covered in costly tapestries]
• Glass ceiling (costly) shaped like palm leaves [Bed dais shaped like emerald palm leaves]
• Lily-shaped beds on golden stems
• Princess in white lily-bed
• New prince in red / scarlet lily-bed, described as "young and dashing"
• [Both royals together, making love on baroque canopy bed, his face quite hidden in her golden hair]
• Unexpected warmth and kindness of royals : Optimism / belief in all humankind as good ("How good men/people are [in the wide world] [after all]!"), as opposed to alleged coldness and classism of the higher strata. Goodness directed by knowledge ("goodness directed by knowledge, in bestowing benefits upon mankind, approaches to the nature of the gods").
• Silks and velvet
• "Happy life lived" at court (enjoyment, pleasure, all play)

• Golden carriage (will be attacked by robbers in Fifth Story)
• Coat of arms on carriage shines like star on carriage panels [two coats of arms, of prince and princess, shine like stars]
• Sugar pretzels/palmiers, candied fruit, and gingerbread [sweets, candied fruit, and croquignoles] (will be taken by robbers in Fifth Story)
• Coachman, footmen, outriders with golden crowns [coachman and footman à la Daumont] (will be killed by robbers in Fifth Story)
• [Fine tall steel-gray horse, its saddle and bridle trimmed with silver bells, and saddlecloth of pure silk, and its saddle-cloth had the prince and princess's coats of arms, entwined, embroidered on it in silk thread.]
• Best wishes / wishes of success
• "Farewell! Farewell!" [prince and princess both dry up their tears upon leave-taking]

• Throwback in Seventh Story
• Travelling through foreign lands (honeymoon?) [voyage of exploration]

Probable inspirations:

• Solomon (wise, multilingual, wealthy, kindly, reign of peace, romance with favourite wife Bilkis/Sheba, even alleged magical powers, less glorious than "the lilies of the fields" whose attire Lord provides... lilies, like palm leaves and requited love, featured in Song of Songs; ennui featured in Ecclesiastes) and favourite queen Sheba / Bilkis, gender-flipped.
• Maria Theresa of Habsburg/Austria (learned, multilingual, wealthy and powerful, heir and later ruler) and consort Francis Steven of Lorraine (a good man as father and spouse, her social inferior, both spouses enlightened despots).
• In the Trojan Cycle, Helen gets to choose her spouse herself: she chooses Menelaus. She chooses a spouse that is more of a father/authority figure above all others.