THE FALL of THE SPIDER MAN
by Cyrus MacMillan · from Canadian Fairy Tales
Adapted Version
Long ago, a man was Spider Man. He lived in the sky.
Spider Man made long ropes. He made ropes for the Star folk. He worked very hard each day. He felt tired. He looked down at the Earth. Men on Earth did not work. Spider Man wanted an easy life. He wanted helpers to work for him.
Spider Man asked for rest. They said no. He was not happy. He made a bad plan. Star folk climbed his ropes. They went to the sky. Spider Man made the ropes weak. It was hard to climb. Star folk fell down. They fell to Earth. They became changed. They could not go back home. They looked strange now.
Spider Man still worked. He did not like it. He left the sky. He went to Earth. He found helpers there. They worked for him. Spider Man did not work. He was very lazy. He liked his easy life.
Glooskap watched the Earth. He saw lazy men. He did not like this. He made food hard to find. Beasts went away. Fish went away. People had no food. They only had water. They were very hungry.
Spider Man drank much water. His belly was big. He was still very hungry. Water was not food. He left his helpers. He went to find food. He did not tell them. He went alone.
Spider Man walked many days. He saw a light. He found a man there. The man had a lamp. The man had a bent back. He had scars. This man was a Sky man. Spider Man knew him. Spider Man had made him fall. This was long ago. The man looked changed now.
The man with the lamp saw Spider Man. He knew him. "I will give you food," he said. "Take these pots." He gave Spider Man pots. The pots had food. "Do not open them now," he said. He said: Open them at home.
Spider Man walked home. He was very hungry. He wanted food now. He did not wait. He was near his home. He opened the pots. The pots had good food. He ate and ate. He ate until he was full. He broke the rule.
Spider Man felt proud. He had much food. He thought he was great. He wanted praise. He would share his food. He would invite all. He told his helpers. He said: Invite all. We will feast.
The helpers were surprised. They told the people. The news spread fast. All heard about it. The people were hungry. They came to the feast. They wanted food very much.
Spider Man brought his pots. He felt very proud. He opened the first pot. It was empty. He opened the next pot. It was empty too. All pots were empty. They had big holes. The man with the lamp made a trick. Spider Man did not obey. So the food was gone. The man with the lamp watched.
The people saw no food. They were very angry. They felt hungry and sad. They pushed Spider Man. Spider Man fell to the ground. He changed. His body changed in a strange way.
The man with the lamp came out. He stood over Spider Man. He said what would happen. You will crawl. Eight legs. Fat belly. Spider Man was now a spider.
Do not be mean or lazy. Bad choices can change you. And that is why spiders crawl and fall. Be kind. Do not be lazy.
Original Story
THE FALL OF THE SPIDER MAN
In olden times the Spider Man lived in the sky-country. He dwelt in a bright little house all by himself, where he weaved webs and long flimsy ladders by which people went back and forth from the sky to the earth. The Star-people often went at night to earth where they roamed about as fairies of light, doing good deeds for women and little children, and they always went back and forth on the ladder of the Spider Man. The Spider Man had to work very hard, weaving his webs, and spinning the yarn from which his ladders were made. One day when he had a short breathing-time from his toil he looked down at the earth-country and there he saw many of the earth-people playing at games, or taking sweet sap from the maple trees, or gathering berries on the rolling hills; but most of the men were lazily idling and doing nothing. The women were all working, after the fashion of Indians in those days; the men were working but little. And Spider Man said to himself, "I should like to go to the earth-country where men idle their time away. I would marry four wives who would work for me while I would take life easy, for I need a rest."
He was very tired of his work for he was kept at it day and night always spinning and weaving his webs. But when he asked for a rest he was not allowed to stop; he was only kicked for his pains and called Sleepy Head, and Lazy-bones and other harsh names, and told to work harder. Then he grew angry and he resolved to punish the Star-people because they kept him so hard at work. He thought that if he punished them and made himself a nuisance, they would be glad to be rid of him. So he hit upon a crafty plan. Each night when a Star-fairy was climbing back to the sky-country, just as he came near the top of the ladder, the Spider Man would cut the strands and the fairy would fall to earth with a great crash. Night after night he did this, and he chuckled to himself as he saw the sky-fairies sprawling through the air and kicking their heels, while the earth-people looked up wonderingly at them and called them Shooting Stars. Many Star-people fell to earth in this way because of the Spider Man's tricks, and they could never get back to the sky-country because of their broken limbs or their disfigured faces, for in the sky-country the people all must have beautiful faces and forms. But Spider Man's tricks brought him no good; the people would not drive him away because they needed his webs and he was kept always at his tasks. At last he decided to run away of his own accord, and, one night when the Moon and the Stars had gone to work and the Sun was asleep, he said farewell to the sky-country and let himself down to earth by one of his own strands of yarn, spinning it as he dropped down.
HE SAID FAREWELL TO THE SKY COUNTRY AND LET HIMSELF DOWN TO EARTH—BY ONE OF HIS OWN STRANDS OF YARN
In the earth-country he married four wives as he had planned, for he wanted them to work for him while he took his ease. He thought he had worked long enough. All went well for a time and the Spider Man was quite happy living his lazy and contented life. Not a strand did he spin, nor a web did he weave. No men on earth were working; only the women toiled. At last, Glooskap, who ruled upon the earth in that time, became very angry because the men in these parts were so lazy, and he sent Famine into their country to punish them for their sins. Famine came very stealthily into the land and gathered up all the corn and carried it off; then he called to him all the animals, and the birds, and the fish of the sea and river, and he took them away with him. In all the land there was nothing left to eat. Only water remained. The people were very hungry and they lived on water for many days. Sometimes they drank the water cold, sometimes hot, sometimes luke-warm, but at best it was but poor fare. The Spider Man soon grew tired of this strange diet, for it did not satisfy his hunger to live always on water. It filled his belly and swelled him to a great size, but it brought him little nourishment or strength. So he said, "There must be good food somewhere in the world; I will go in search of it."
That night when all the world was asleep he took a large bag, and crept softly away from his four wives and set out on his quest for food. He did not want any one to know where he was going. For several days he travelled, living only on water; but he found no food, and the bag was still empty on his back. At last one day he saw birds in the trees and he knew that he was near the border of the Hunger-Land. That night in the forest when he stopped at a stream to drink, he saw a tiny gleam of light far ahead of him through the trees. He hurried towards the light and soon he came upon a man with a great hump on his shoulders and scars on his face, and a light hanging at his back, with a shade on it which he could close and open at his will. The Spider Man said, "I am looking for food; tell me where I can find it." And the humped man with the light said, "Do you want it for your people?" But the Spider Man said, "No, I want it for myself." Then the humped man laughed and said, "You are near to the border of the Land of Plenty; follow me and I will give you food." Then he flashed the light at his back, opening and closing the shade so that the light flickered, and he set off quickly through the trees. The Spider Man followed the light flashing in the darkness, but he had to go so fast that he was almost out of breath when he reached the house where the humped man had stopped. But the humped man only laughed when he saw the Spider Man coming puffing wearily along with his fat and swollen belly. He gave him a good fat meal and the Spider Man soon felt better after his long fast. Then the humped man said, "You are the Spider Man who once weaved webs in the sky. I, too, once dwelt in the star-country, and one dark night as I was climbing back from the earth-country on your ladder, carrying my lamp on my back to light the way, when I was near the sky you cut the strands of the web and I fell to the earth with a great crash. That is why I have a great hump on my back and scars on my face, and because of this I have never been allowed to go back to the sky-country of the stars. I roam the earth at nights as a forest fairy just as I did in the olden days, for I have my former power still with me, and I still carry my lamp at my back; it is the starlight from the sky-country. I shall never get back to the star-country while I have life. But some day when my work on earth is done I shall go back. But although you were cruel to me I will give you food." The Spider Man remembered the nights he had cut the ladder strands, and he laughed to himself at the memory of the star-fairies falling to earth with a great crash. But the man with the light knew that now he had his chance to take vengeance on the Spider Man. The latter did not suspect evil. He was glad to get food at last.
Then the humped man said, "I will give you four pots. You must not open them until you get home. They will then be filled with food, and thereafter always when you open them they will be packed with good food. And the food will never grow less." The Spider Man put the four pots in his bag and slinging it over his shoulder he set out for his home, well pleased with his success. After he had gone away, the humped man used his power to make him hungry. Yet for several days he travelled without opening the pots, for although he was almost starving he wished to do as the humped man had told him. At last he could wait no longer. He stopped near his home, took the pots out of the bag and opened them. They were filled with good food as he had been promised. In one was a fine meat stew; in another were many cooked vegetables; in another was bread made from Indian corn; and in another was luscious ripe fruit. He ate until he was full. He covered the pots, put them back in the bag, and hid the bag among the trees. Then he went home. He had meanwhile taken pity on his people and he decided to invite the Chief and all the tribe to a feast the next evening, for the pots would be full, and the food would never decrease, and there would be enough for all. He thought the people would regard him as a very wonderful man if he could supply them all with good food in their hunger.
When he reached his home his wives were very glad to see him back, and they at once brought him water, the only food they had. But he laughed them to scorn, and threw the water in their faces and said, "Oh, foolish women, I do not want water; it is not food for a great man like me. I have had a good meal of meat stew and corn bread and cooked vegetables and luscious ripe fruit. I know where much food is to be found, but I alone know. I can find food when all others fail, for I am a great man. Go forth and invite the Chief and all the people to a feast which I shall provide for them to-morrow night—a feast for all the land, for my food never grows less." They were all amazed when they heard his story, and the thought of his good meal greatly added to their hunger. But they went out and summoned all the tribe to a feast as he had told them.
The next night all the people gathered for the feast, for the news of it had spread through all the land. They had taken no water that day, for they wished to eat well, and they were very hungry. They were as hungry as wild beasts in search of food. The Spider Man was very glad because the people praised him, and he proudly brought in his bag of pots. The people all waited hungrily and eagerly. But when he uncovered the first pot there was no food there; he uncovered the second pot, but there was no food there; he uncovered all the pots, but not a bit of food was in any of them. They were all empty, and in the bottom of each was a great gaping hole. Now it had happened in this way. When the humped man, the Star-fairy, had given the pots to the Spider Man, he knew well that the Spider Man would disobey his orders and that he would open the pots before he reached his home. He chuckled to himself, for he knew that now he could take vengeance on the web-weaver who had injured him. So when the Spider Man had left the pots among the trees, the humped man used his magic power and made holes in the pots, and the charm of the food was broken and all the food disappeared. When the people saw the empty pots they thought they had been purposely deceived. The remains of the food and the smell of stew and of fruit still clung to the pots. They thought the Spider Man had eaten all the food himself. So in their great hunger and their rage and their disappointment they fell upon him and beat him and bore him to the ground, while the humped man with the lamp at his back hiding behind the trees looked on and laughed in his glee. Then the people split the Spider Man's arms to the shoulders, and his legs to the thighs, so that he had eight limbs instead of four. And the humped man—the star-fairy named Fire-fly—came forth from behind the trees and standing over the fallen Spider Man he said, "Henceforth because of your cruelty to the star-people you will always crawl on eight legs, and you will have a fat round belly because of the water you have drunk; and sometimes you will live on top of the water. But you shall always eat only flies and insects. And you will always spin downwards but never upwards, and you will often try to get back to the star-country, but you shall always slip down again on the strand of yarn you have spun." Then Fire-fly flashed his light and went quickly away, opening and closing the shade of his lamp as he flitted among the trees. And to this day the Spider Man lives as the humped man of the lamp had spoken, because of the cruelty he practised on the star-fairies in the olden days.
Story DNA
Moral
Cruelty and selfishness will eventually lead to one's downfall and transformation.
Plot Summary
The Spider Man, tired of weaving sky-ladders for the Star-people, descends to Earth to live a lazy life, first by cruelly causing Star-fairies to fall, then by marrying wives to work for him. When a famine strikes due to men's laziness, he seeks food and encounters a Star-fairy he had previously injured, now a humped man. The humped man gives him magical food pots with a warning not to open them prematurely. Spider Man disobeys, then boasts of his endless food to the starving tribe, inviting them to a feast. At the feast, the pots are revealed to be empty and holed, a trick orchestrated by the humped man for revenge. The enraged people attack Spider Man, and the humped man transforms him into the first spider, condemning him to crawl, eat insects, and forever fall when attempting to climb.
Themes
Emotional Arc
pride to humility
Writing Style
Narrative Elements
Cultural Context
This story reflects traditional Indigenous beliefs about the origins of natural phenomena (like spiders) and often carries moral lessons about community responsibility and the consequences of selfish actions. Glooskap is a significant figure in many Northeastern Indigenous cultures.
Plot Beats (13)
- Spider Man, weary of weaving sky-ladders for Star-people, observes lazy men on Earth and wishes for a similar life with working wives.
- Denied rest, he grows angry and begins cutting the Star-people's ladders as they ascend, causing them to fall and become 'Shooting Stars' and disfigured, unable to return to the sky.
- Despite his mischief, he is not fired, so he escapes to Earth, marries four wives, and lives idly.
- Glooskap punishes the lazy men of Earth with Famine, leaving only water to drink.
- Spider Man, bloated and hungry from only water, secretly leaves his wives to find food.
- He encounters a humped man with a lamp, who is a Star-fairy he had previously caused to fall and become disfigured.
- The humped man, recognizing Spider Man, gives him four magical pots of food, warning him not to open them until he reaches home.
- Spider Man, despite his hunger, travels for days, but eventually disobeys the warning and opens the pots near his home, eating his fill.
- He decides to invite the Chief and the entire tribe to a feast, boasting of his endless food supply and his greatness.
- His wives are amazed and invite the tribe, who arrive starving and eager.
- Spider Man proudly presents the pots, but upon opening them, finds them empty with holes, as the humped man had magically sabotaged them after Spider Man's disobedience.
- The enraged and hungry people attack Spider Man, splitting his limbs.
- The humped man, revealing himself as Fire-fly, appears and curses Spider Man to forever crawl on eight legs, have a fat belly, eat only insects, and always fall when trying to climb upwards, thus becoming the first spider.
Characters
The Spider Man ★ protagonist
Initially, a human-like figure, but transforms into a creature with a fat, round belly and eight limbs (four arms split to shoulders, four legs split to thighs). His original build is not explicitly described beyond being capable of hard work, but after consuming only water, he becomes 'swelled to a great size' with a 'fat and swollen belly'.
Attire: No specific clothing is mentioned, implying a more natural or simple attire consistent with a mythical creature or ancient setting, likely made of natural fibers or symbolic of his weaving abilities.
Wants: To escape hard work and live a life of ease and luxury, to be admired and praised by others, and to satisfy his own hunger.
Flaw: Greed, laziness, pride, and a lack of foresight. His desire for an easy life and his boastfulness ultimately lead to his downfall and transformation.
Begins as an overworked but essential sky-dweller, descends into cruelty and selfishness, attempts to live a life of leisure on Earth, is punished by Famine, tries to regain status through deceit, and is ultimately transformed into a crawling spider-like creature, forever bound to his new form and diet.
Lazy, selfish, cunning, proud, cruel, ungrateful, boastful. He seeks ease and comfort at the expense of others, shows no remorse for his actions, and enjoys the suffering of those he harms.
Image Prompt & Upload
A male figure, initially human-like, but after transformation, he has a greatly swollen, round belly and eight limbs, with four arms split to the shoulders and four legs split to the thighs. His skin is a dark, earthy tone. He is in a crawling posture, with a long, thin strand of yarn trailing from his body downwards. His expression is one of perpetual frustration and a hint of past arrogance. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
Glooskap ◆ supporting
Not explicitly described, but as a powerful ruler, he would likely possess an imposing and dignified presence, consistent with Indigenous North American mythology.
Attire: No specific clothing is mentioned, but as a ruler, it would be regal and symbolic of his power, possibly adorned with natural elements or intricate patterns reflecting his connection to the earth.
Wants: To maintain order and punish laziness among the men of the earth-country.
Flaw: Not explicitly shown, but his anger can lead to severe punishments like Famine.
Acts as a force of cosmic justice, initiating the chain of events that lead to the Spider Man's downfall.
Just, powerful, stern, punitive when angered. He acts to maintain balance and punish wrongdoing.
Image Prompt & Upload
A powerful Indigenous North American male figure, appearing ageless, with a stern and wise expression. He wears a majestic, flowing robe made of richly embroidered deerskin and adorned with feathers and intricate beadwork, signifying his role as a ruler. His posture is upright and commanding, with hands clasped in front of him. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
Fire-fly (The Humped Man) ⚔ antagonist
A man with a prominent hump on his shoulders and scars on his face, indicating past injury. He is capable of moving quickly through the forest.
Attire: No specific clothing is mentioned, but he carries a lamp on his back. His attire would be practical for a forest fairy, perhaps simple, earthy garments that allow for swift movement.
Wants: To exact vengeance on the Spider Man for his past cruelty and to fulfill his role as a forest fairy.
Flaw: His past injury and disfigurement prevent him from returning to the sky-country, fueling his desire for vengeance.
Begins as a victim of the Spider Man's cruelty, patiently waits for his opportunity, and ultimately orchestrates the Spider Man's downfall and transformation, achieving his long-sought vengeance.
Cunning, patient, vengeful, observant, and possesses a sense of justice. He is also capable of generosity (offering food) but ultimately prioritizes retribution.
Image Prompt & Upload
A male Indigenous North American forest fairy, appearing ageless, with a pronounced hump on his shoulders and visible scars across his face. He has dark, piercing eyes and a knowing, slightly mischievous expression. He wears simple, dark-colored tunic and trousers made of rough-spun linen, suitable for moving through the forest. A small, glowing lamp with an adjustable shade is strapped to his back, casting a soft, flickering light. He stands with a slight hunch, but his posture suggests agility. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
The Spider Man's Wives ○ minor
Not explicitly described, but as 'women working, after the fashion of Indians in those days', they would likely be strong and capable, with features consistent with Indigenous North American women.
Attire: Simple, practical clothing suitable for daily labor, such as deerskin dresses or tunics, possibly adorned with natural elements or simple patterns, consistent with Indigenous North American women's attire.
Wants: To survive and provide for their household, as was the custom for women in their society.
Flaw: Their subservient role in society and their dependence on the Spider Man, who exploits them.
They remain largely static, serving as a backdrop to the Spider Man's selfishness and ultimately witnessing his public humiliation.
Hardworking, obedient (initially), surprised, and ultimately disappointed. They are initially glad to see the Spider Man but are later scorned by him.
Image Prompt & Upload
Four Indigenous North American adult women, standing together, facing forward. They have strong builds, dark braided hair, and kind, weary expressions. They wear practical, earth-toned deerskin dresses with simple geometric patterns, and moccasins. Their hands are calloused from work. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
Locations
Spider Man's Sky-Country House
A bright, small dwelling in the sky-country, where the Spider Man lives alone, constantly weaving webs and long, flimsy yarn ladders. It is implied to be a simple, functional space for his endless toil.
Mood: Initially industrious and functional, later becoming a place of resentment and anger due to forced labor.
Spider Man's initial home where he works tirelessly, conceives his plan to escape to Earth, and begins cutting the Star-people's ladders.
Image Prompt & Upload
A small, bright dwelling crafted from tightly woven, iridescent spider silk, suspended amidst soft, glowing clouds in a celestial void. Delicate, shimmering yarn ladders extend downwards into the infinite blue. The interior is sparse but luminous, with light filtering through the silken walls, highlighting intricate web patterns. no border, no frame, no watermark, no text, no signature, edge-to-edge illustration.
Earth-Country Village/Settlement
A settlement on Earth where men are often found idling, playing games, taking sap from maple trees, or gathering berries on rolling hills, while women work. Later, it becomes a place of famine, with people living on water.
Mood: Initially lazy and contented for men, industrious for women; later desperate and starving due to famine.
Spider Man observes this land from above, decides to move here, and later experiences the famine with his four wives. It is also the site of the ill-fated feast.
Image Prompt & Upload
A traditional Wabanaki or Mi'kmaq village clearing, with several birchbark wigwams and longhouses nestled among rolling hills. Smoke rises gently from central hearths. Nearby, tall sugar maple trees stand, with bark buckets catching sap, and wild berry bushes dot the grassy slopes. The ground is a mix of packed earth and scattered pine needles. no border, no frame, no watermark, no text, no signature, edge-to-edge illustration.
Forest Bordering the Land of Plenty
A dense forest at night, near a stream, marking the border of the 'Hunger-Land' and the 'Land of Plenty'. A tiny gleam of light is visible through the trees, leading to the humped man's house.
Mood: Mysterious, hopeful, and slightly eerie due to the flickering light and the presence of the 'forest fairy'.
Spider Man, starving, travels through this forest and encounters the humped man (Fire-fly) who offers him food and the magic pots.
Image Prompt & Upload
A dense, ancient Acadian forest at deep night, with towering spruce and balsam fir trees casting deep shadows. A narrow, rocky stream meanders through the undergrowth, its surface reflecting faint starlight. A single, flickering, warm yellow light source is visible in the distance, partially obscured by thick tree trunks and dark foliage. The air is cool and still. no border, no frame, no watermark, no text, no signature, edge-to-edge illustration.
Feast Gathering Place
A communal gathering space within the Earth-country village, where the Chief and all the tribe assemble for the promised feast. It is a place of great hunger and anticipation, which quickly turns to rage and disappointment.
Mood: Initially expectant and hopeful, then rapidly devolving into furious disappointment and violent retribution.
The climax of the story, where Spider Man's deception is revealed, leading to his transformation into a spider by the vengeful Fire-fly.
Image Prompt & Upload
A large, open communal clearing within a Wabanaki or Mi'kmaq village at night, illuminated by a central bonfire and several smaller campfires. The ground is packed earth, surrounded by the dark silhouettes of birchbark dwellings and tall pine trees. A large crowd of people, their faces etched with hunger and anticipation, are gathered around a central figure. Behind a cluster of trees at the edge of the clearing, a faint, flickering light is barely visible. no border, no frame, no watermark, no text, no signature, edge-to-edge illustration.
