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Heaven McFadden

PROF. Dewey

ENG101

Final Draft

07/ May /2022

Faithful John
Grimm's Complete Fairy Tales

The Grimms Brothers are known for such nostalgic fairy tales as the princess and the

frog, cinderella, and even some that most may be unfamiliar with. However, unlike the

Disney versions of these fairy tales, the Grimm Brothers' stories were grim like their

name. Jacob Grim was the oldest, and William Grimm was the youngest. They were

introduced to folklore and became extremely fascinated with literature, especially those

they looked up to. It was not until 1812 to 1822 that both boys started to write for a

children's book publication; however, their idea behind this book was to establish German

traditions within the readings. According to History & Biography, "...[the Grimms

desired] that this work was a tribute to popular literature, a document that could faithfully

express the national oral tradition that [was] supposed loss”.

Moreover, the Grimms brothers marked many childhoods, whether we have noticed it;

however, some of the original stories we know and love have a happy ending. The

brothers Grimm is more on the "dark" side of things. For instance, while reading the frog
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prince, it was not a kiss that brought him back into his human form. The princess threw

him against the wall out of disgust. Although not dark, it is abrupt and quite different than

what Americans may be used to since the two brothers wanted to establish their German

origins and traditions within their writings.

We all have wants, and we all have needs. However, it is about how we go about

achieving these desires and necessities that show our true character. Furthermore, this is

the critical factor of Faithful John. A story of a man who goes to great lengths to prove

his loyalty to his masters, regardless of his safety. While reading, it is apparent that the

story is trying to alert the reader of the immediate danger approaching John, The Young

King, and The Princess of Golden Dwelling. However, other than just that, the story also

has a lesson that can be learned from the turmoil the characters go through. The Grimm

Brothers' tales mainly have a dark and twisted ending, but there is always something to be

learned regardless of how dark or sad a conclusion may be. As previously stated, John is

a royal servant of the crown and is responsible for taking care of the King's heir once he

passes on. His obligations required him to ensure that The Young King knew everything

about the castle except for one room. However, The Young King’s selfishness and

confusion about wants and needs will lead to more issues than the Young King could ever

know.

It begins with the King lying on his deathbed; by his side is his servant, whom he called Faithful

John. John had been loyal to the King for years, and while he stood next to his dying majesty, he

swore to take the King's heir under his wing; however, there was one thing the young King was

not allowed to see, a photograph of a princess. The story begins with foreshadowing; it starts

with John himself. John states that “I will not forsake him and serve him with fidelity, even if it
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should cost me my life” (21). This is why John is called faithful; regardless of how complex the

job is or how mundane the service might seem, John will be there to serve the royal family with

extreme loyalty. John's commitment is constantly tested in his quest to find the Princess of

Golden Dwellings, let alone trying to keep the young King away from her infamous painting

hanging in the castle. The King says, “If you do not promise me… [a] picture of the princess of

Golden Dwelling, you shall not show,”(21). This illustrates an impending suspension of dread

hanging over John's and the young King's heads. Regardless, John being loyal to the crown

decides not to disobey; however, this is only the beginning of his loyalty test.

With all of the foreshadowing, it is impossible for the reader not to feel a sense of

suspense while reading on. Upon seeing the painting of the princess, the King fainted. Once he

woke, he demanded to see her, and if not, John would lose his title of fidelity, his faithfulness to

the crown. Again, John's loyalty is being tested. However, this is on both the former King and

the new King. If John were to show the young King the painting, he would be breaking the

promise he was sworn to keep.

On the other hand, if he does not show the painting to the new King, he will remove his

fidelity title. So, to please the new King, he opened the door. However, he tried his best to

prevent the King from seeing the forsaken painting, "[John] went in first and thought by standing

before him so he could hide the portrait" (22). This then presents the rising act.

Upon finding the princess and pretending to be wealthy merchants who traded gold and

took her onto their vessel, the young King stated, “Perhaps I shall bring the princess with me,”

before showing her the goods inside. While this was taking place, John ordered for the boat to set

sail, the princess being unaware, “...in her delight, she did not observe that the ship was sailing
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away” (23). However, it does not conclude there. On the voyage home with the newly engaged

pair, John overheard a flock of crows talking about the princess and the upcoming trials the

young King would encounter on his quest to bring back his bride. However, “whoever knows it

and tells it to him, half his body will become stone from knee to toe,” said the second crow (24).

Upon hearing this, John decided to act accordingly; since he could not tell the King himself to

prevent the upcoming misfortunes and protect the King and his bride.

Once John had completed all but one of the tasks, there was one that set Faith John’s fate “..[he]

knelt and sucked the three drops of blood from her right breast, and spat them out”(25). For this,

John was sent to the gallows and sentenced to be executed; however, this brings back the

previous quote. In the very few moments left of his life, John stood on the stand and confessed,

“...he related how he had hearkened to the conversation of the crows when at the sea, and how he

had been obliged to do all he bad fallen down lifeless and cecome stone” (26).

With John putting his life on the line to tell the King the truth about everything he did to

protect him, the King was sickened with grief alongside the queen. The stone of John was placed

next to the King's bed; however, one night, the rock spoke and told the King it was possible to

bring him back. The young King who embodies greed had to decide; John risked his life and

broke his promise to the former King for his selfish wants. Likewise, now, after realizing his

misjudgment of John's character, The Young King said, “Ah, if I could bring you to life again,

my most faithful John” (26), and then John spoke; “If you cut off the heads of your two children
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with your hand, and sprinkle me with their blood, I shall be restored to life” (26). However, his

unmindful need took over; he beheaded his children and did as told without any hesitation. John

was restored, and shockingly, so were the children. However, the ending of this reading is bleak

since his two children had to die at The Young King's hands to bring back John. However, with a

closer look at the message, one could say that greed and selfishness could overpower and

overlook acts of kindness. Most would be appalled if they saw someone leap and suck on a

woman's breast on her wedding day. However, the King and the reader would not know that

John was trying to do what was in the King's best interests. If he told him early, he would not be

able to help him with the next challenge he would have to face.

The story of Faithful John shows a man who goes through great trials to prove his loyalty,

getting to the extent that it cost him his life. However, this makes the reader stop and think about

the story's beginning, and John said he was willing to risk his life to prove faithful to the crown.

However, it almost seemed unfair for John to be tested in such a way. While reading, one would

start to think the princess was cursed, which was the way the King tried to warn John not to show

the Young King the painting of the princess; the former King stated that "If he sees that picture,

he will fall violently in love with her, and will drop down in a swoon, and go through great

danger for her sake…" (21) The warning was clear as day; however, the young King's selfishness

and lust got in the way of John ensuring his safety. All John wanted to do was follow the orders

he had been given; however, his loyalty only led him to his death. Whether or not you are serving

someone out of kindness or it is your job to look after someone, should it be worth your life?
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Works Cited

History-biography. “The Brothers Grimm.” History and Biography, 27 Apr. 2019, history-

biography.com/the-brothers-Grimm/.