Read "Master Maid" from the Blue Fairy Book and respond to the following question: Why are the lawyer, baliff and sheriff tortured? Is it really necesary? Is it fair? (What role does justice play in the story?)

-- Anonymous, November 19, 2004

Answers

I really am not sure why they had to be tortured. Yes, I did notice that they are all involved with the court and therefore justice but, I do do think they needed to be tortured. I also think that this story has a very odd sense of justice.

-- Anonymous, November 20, 2004

The lawyer, baliff, and sheriff are tortured because they needed to learn a work ethic, so that in the end they cou;d keep up with the wedding.

-- Anonymous, November 21, 2004

Well it was very odd indeed but I think they needed to be tortured for the plot. Otherwise they would never recommend her items to help the King's son. However, how did she know those things the king's son had were to break or be useless? It is however not fair for them to be tortured. The king's son did the same as them but he didn't get tortured. I think this story is almost mocking justice. With all these people being involved with justice and all of them being tortured and used. How is it just that in the end, the giant just decided to right off eat the King's son? It's very odd, especially the bride's sister's death ... thats just wrong.

-ror

-- Anonymous, November 21, 2004

Again, I would say that it is necessary for the plot, and I would even argue that there could be some strange, twisted form of justice in it, because the three men were drawn to the maid by her rich house, and they tried to buy her love. An independent maid like her probably couldn't stand that sort of thing.

-- Anonymous, November 21, 2004

It seemed to me completely unfair and stupid that the Master Maid had to torture these poor men. I mean, the whole point was for her to get the attention of the prince, so couldn't she have at least tried to talk to him through some less violent way like going to the castle and just asking? But then again, that would be the easy way to do it, something which is not embraced in fairy stories such as this. The long and entertaining way must always be used.

-- Anonymous, November 21, 2004

Perhaps the Master maid tortures the lawyer, bailiff and sheriff because when they see her, they see a beautiful maiden who lives in a golden cottage. They do not pay attention to who she really is. Maybe this is her way of testing their committment to their love for her. They offer her money to marry her but they fun away as soon as they discover that she is not just a pretty woman. I mean, the Prince risked his life to talk to her. The status of her suitors could be a way of indicating that she does not care about what her husband does, as long as he passes the test. Or perhaps it is there to show that the Master maid does not answer to any law but her own.

-- Anonymous, November 21, 2004

Each of the main characters (the Prince and the Master-Maid) had to perform three tasks. The Prince's tasks were there to show that he could provide for the family. He already had inherited wealth, but he proved that he could run a stable, and handle money adeptly. The maid's tasks proved her loyalty. She remained in love with the Prince so much that she felt any other suitor deserved such punishment. Her three other suitors only proved to have money, and not any other skill. Those three men were unfortunate victims of the Master-maid's loyalty.

-- Anonymous, November 22, 2004

I think that the three victims deserve their punishment. Trying to woo a lady with nothing to offer but cash is not really a good thing in a fairy story. In real life, however, money really play a role in marriage *koff*DonaldTrump*koff*. I think this story is mocking real life in the sense that greed does not end well. Except it involves coals, doors, and calves.

-- Anonymous, November 22, 2004

They're tortured because, as Tolkien pointed out, children absolutely LOVE violence and justice being done unto characters. Any violence at all to characters makes it a pretty popular story. Probably not necessary and not really fair, and not even that just, but the writer knew it would make his story popular if a few characters got what-for.

-- Anonymous, November 22, 2004