Did you notice the gluttonous girl didn't yet meet up with her future husband in my last post? In fact, I ended the summary just before her quest began. She was still hot with anger and ready to brave the forest, her little sister in tow. Unlike Bluebeard's wife and Psyche, gluttonous girl faces most of her challenges up front and by her own choice. No one forces her and its not in defense of her life or love. It is however a proactive quest for someone who will love her even if she eats too much tallow.
The gluttonous girl and her sister were cold, hungry and miserable in the forest when they heard their mother's search party call after the runaway girls. The little sister asked if they could make some noise so they might be rescued. The gluttonous sister, still angry about her punishment, said no and explained there would be plenty to eat once they found the mountain dweller. They drudged on until coming across a little mouse who could not get over a large log. The sisters, despite their weariness, helped the mouse - who then to their surprise spoke. She invited the girls into her home, which appeared before them in the woods. The girls were happy because the little mouse was more than a woodland creature. She was mouse woman, a spiritual being who helped young people in trouble. Mouse woman fed the sisters while they told her of their quest to find mountain dweller. Mouse woman gave them directions to his home but warned they would face four dangers and she could only give the sisters magical tools against three.
The sisters left well fed and with their needed tools. First they came across two large fighting dogs. They threw the dogs magical fish bones. As the beasts chomped away the sisters sidled past. Next, they came across a river filled with dangerous kelp that would pull them under. The gluttonous sister used her magical knife to cut moss as mouse woman directed. As they canoed across the river the sisters threw moss between them and the kelp - the kelp settled until the the girls reached the shore. Finally, they had to climb a cliff to get to the mountain dweller's home. Unfortunately the crag they climbed began to close on them. Before they were crushed the gluttonous sister places a magical soap stone in the crag. They climbed safely to the top where they were greeted by a handsome young man - the mountain dweller.
The little sister wondered out loud whether the handsome mountain dweller himself was the fourth danger...
I love this story for many reasons. The first being that we learn the mother, despite her anger, is searching frantically for her daughters. In many fairy tales the mother is neglectful or allows her daughter to be offered up to danger. Here we have a normal mother who wished to punish her gluttonous daughter but still loved and cared about her safety. This story is also a warning to parents who don't think when they dole out punishment. The mother hurt her daughter's feeling by calling her names. Think of a mother in modernity that might call her daughter fat or piggy for eating the last candy. Words have consequences. A mother has the authority to punish misbehavior but she ought to be smart and respectful in how she metes out the punishment.
Another lovely aspect of this story is mouse woman. The sisters are hungry and tired but want to continue on their quest. Enter a grandmother like figure who can help the girls out. When anyone embarks on a quest - no matter money, strength, or smarts - that person will need help. Mouse woman provides helpful tools and acts as a guiding force just as our friends, families, and teachers do today.
Finally, the sisters deserve some mention for their own behavior. Although they were tired and hungry, they trudged on which show perseverance. They stopped and helped a little mouse when they needed just as much help. The sisters were kind. Further, they listened to the mouse woman's guidance and used the tools she offered them. Many times we fail because we don't listen. We don't recognize the tools being offered to us - life lines to help us succeed.
