The Brothers Grimm's The Water Of Life

The telling of tales has long been used as a means to entertain those to whom they were told. Promptly, these stories took on almost subliminal themes that gradually and covertly made their way into the lives and minds all that became familiar with the fictions. The Brothers Grimm did not shy away from this practice and readily incorporated many of these ideas in their own tellings of what are now considered to be classic tales. The Water of Life particularly embodies this very notion, following a very similar path of many fairy tales before and to be mimicked by many to follow. A prince embarks on a journey to rescue his ailing father only to face further turmoil that tests his integrity. Through much assistance and different elements present

Although the challenges at hand are presented as difficult and near impossible, the dwarf provides the noble with the tools and guidance he needs to complete them with ease, entering the palace with the use of a wand and feeding the lions to calm them. In addition to obtaining what he had set out for, the prince, too, was able to gain a mighty sword, the rings of the knights, enchanted bread, as well as the hand of the princess that was in the castle as well as her kingdom should he return to marry her in a year. Although he narrowly escapes the enchanted castle, the prince is proved successful in his campaign. The dwarf’s advice and aid proves him to be an animus; the good council of the man propels the hero forward, allowing for him to prevail in his

Despite agreeing to spare the older princes, the dwarf warns the hero of their ill intentions and the potential threat that they may pose to him. On their travels to their home, the three princes encounter a kingdom ravaged by war and famine, the young nobleman gives the king of the devastated land the enchanted bread, which is used to feed the people of that realm; he also loans the weapon he had acquired to the king, allowing for the land to finally see peace once the enemies were able to be defeated. Yet these good deeds prove to not be enough for his brothers as they feared for their own financial fate following the recovery of their father due to the actions of the prince, this results in his awakening that not all is good and despite his nobility and kindness, they still wished him ill fate and to rob him of his good fortune. In order to ensure their stability and prosperity, they made it appear as though he wished to kill the king and they, instead, had brought the water of life to heal him. By doing so, they prove to be the villains that he is facing, where the two men care more for materialistic possessions than for their kin. Their actions set in motion the king’s plan to have his son quietly executed, yet his good nature once again prevailed as he was able to escape death by appealing to the huntsman meant to kill