Sharing Joy and Sorrow
by Brothers Grimm · from Household Tales
Original Story
Sharing joy and sorrow
A fairy tale by the Brothers Grimm
There was once a tailor, who was a quarrelsome fellow, and his wife, who was good, industrious, and pious, never could please him. Whatever she did, he was not satisfied, but grumbled and scolded, and knocked her about and beat her. As the authorities at last heard of it, they had him summoned, and put in prison in order to make him better. He was kept for a while on bread and water, and then set free again. He was forced, however, to promise not to beat his wife any more, but to live with her in peace, and share joy and sorrow with her, as married people ought to do. All went on well for a time, but then he fell into his old ways, and was surly and quarrelsome. And because he dared not beat her, he would seize her by the hair and tear it out. The woman escaped from him, and sprang out into the yard, but he ran after her with his yard-measure and scissors, and chased her about, and threw the yard-measure and scissors at her, and whatever else came his way. When he hit her he laughed, and when he missed her, he stormed and swore. This went on so long that the neighbors came to the wife's assistance. The tailor was again summoned before the magistrates, and reminded of his promise. "Dear gentlemen," said he, "I have kept my word, I have not beaten her, but have shared joy and sorrow with her." - "How can that be," said the judge, "when she continually brings such heavy complaints against you?" - "I have not beaten her, but just because she looked so strange I wanted to comb her hair with my hand; she, however, got away from me, and left me quite spitefully. Then I hurried after her, and in order to bring her back to her duty, I threw at her as a well-meant admonition whatever came readily to hand. I have shared joy and sorrow with her also, for whenever I hit her I was full of joy, and she of sorrow, and if I missed her, then she was joyful, and I sorry." The judges were not satisfied with this answer, but gave him the reward he deserved.
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Story DNA
Moral
Justice will eventually be served to those who abuse and deceive, even if they try to twist the truth.
Plot Summary
A quarrelsome tailor abuses his wife, leading to his imprisonment and a promise to live peacefully and 'share joy and sorrow'. He soon finds new ways to torment her without 'beating' her, chasing her and throwing objects, laughing when he hits her and swearing when he misses. When brought before the magistrates again, he argues that his actions fulfilled his promise by sharing his joy and her sorrow, or vice versa. The judges see through his deception and deliver a just punishment.
Themes
Emotional Arc
suffering to justice
Writing Style
Narrative Elements
Cultural Context
Reflects a period where domestic abuse was often handled by local authorities, and societal norms might have allowed for a husband's 'admonishment' of his wife, though extreme violence was punishable. The story critiques the twisting of moral obligations.
Plot Beats (10)
- A tailor is quarrelsome and abuses his good, industrious, and pious wife.
- The authorities hear of his abuse, imprison him, and make him promise to live peacefully and share joy and sorrow with his wife.
- The tailor initially behaves but soon falls back into his old ways, though he avoids 'beating' her directly.
- He seizes her by the hair, tears it out, and chases her with a yard-measure and scissors, throwing objects at her.
- He laughs when he hits her and curses when he misses, claiming this is 'sharing joy and sorrow'.
- Neighbors come to the wife's aid, and she again brings complaints to the magistrates.
- The tailor is summoned before the judges and reminded of his promise.
- He argues that he kept his word by not beating her and by sharing joy (his when he hit her) and sorrow (hers when hit, his when he missed).
- The judges reject his twisted explanation.
- The judges give him the punishment he deserves for his continued abuse and deception.
Characters
The Tailor
Implied to be of average build, capable of physical violence
Attire: Simple tailor's garb: tunic, breeches, perhaps a leather apron
Quarrelsome, abusive, manipulative
The Wife
No specific details given, but implied to be of average build
Attire: Simple peasant dress typical of the period
Good, industrious, pious
The Judge
No specific details given, but implied to be of average build
Attire: Formal attire appropriate for a magistrate of the period
Authoritative, just, discerning
Locations
Tailor's Home
A cramped dwelling where the tailor's wife toils and suffers abuse.
Mood: Oppressive, tense, filled with domestic strife.
The tailor abuses his wife, leading to her escape.
Yard
A small, enclosed space adjacent to the tailor's home, where the tailor chases his wife.
Mood: Chaotic, public, filled with desperation and fear.
The tailor pursues his wife, throwing objects at her.
Courtroom
A formal space where justice is supposedly served.
Mood: Formal, judgmental, ultimately just.
The tailor attempts to justify his actions, but is ultimately punished.