The Fire-Bird and Vasilisa

Get back here, you! Otherwise, the tsar will kill me.

Today, we're heading over to Russia to look at The Firebird and Vasilisa. I find it interesting that the story is titled this way when the firebird isn't a big part of it. Still, that's why I happened to choose this tale for today, so I guess it was a good move.

Firstly, I would like to talk about Ivanushka's horse. A talking horse is a rarity, but this horse also gives good advice and can cast spells. It's quite the companion. Also, it is only because of the horse that Ivanushka doesn't find himself on the run or dead. He gets in way over his head from the beginning and only through the horse's help does he come out on top. It's a pity this wise, important character doesn't have a name.

We need to talk about Princess Vasilisa as well. She tries to take a free lunch, and soon finds out that's not possible. She's been kidnapped to be married off to some old jerk. At least he's a tsar, I guess. What surprised me is that they take her requests seriously. Before she gets married, she needs a ring from the bottom of the ocean and for the tsar not to be so old. She probably didn't expect them to be able to get the ring, so she tries to kill the tsar next. I have to wonder what her exit plan was here. If she thought the tsar would just jump into a vat of boiling water because she told him to, she was overestimating her influence on him. However, if it did work and she managed to kill him, without first falling in love with Ivan, was she going to race out the door and keep running until she got home? Or was she expecting they would kill her next? Maybe she would overturn their values and declare herself tsar of that kingdom. That would have been interesting.

Fortunately for Princess Vasilisa, Ivan was the first one to try the boiling bath and he was able to come out more pleasing because of a spell from his wonderful horse. Then the tsar was only too willing to try it and, without magical protection, died. Of course, since Ivan is the hero of our tale, the princess fell in love with him and the people of the land decided that this archer turned kidnapper would be a good tsar. So, Ivan gets everything the old tsar wanted and then probably dances on the old man's grave.

If we're looking for a moral in this story, it's either if you're kidnapped and expected to marry some rich old man, demand outrageous things until he kills himself, or respect your friends, even if they carry you on their backs, because they may save your life. One of the two.

Have a fairy tale or legend you want me to write about? Comment below!