Prince Evstáfi
by Alexander Afanasyev
Prince Evstáfi In a certain kingdom once there lived a Tsar who had a young son—Tsarévich Evstáfi—who did not love visiting or dances, nor promenades, but only liked going in the streets and walking among the poor, the simple folk, and the beggars, and bestowing alms on them. And the Tsar was very angry with him for this, and commanded him to be taken up to the gallows and to be delivered to a cruel death. So the attendants took the Tsarévich, and were on the point of hanging him, when the Tsarévich fell on his knees before his father and began to ask for three hours’ interval. And the Tsar agreed, and gave him the three hours’ respite. And the Tsarévich went to the silversmith’s and ordered him to make three chests—one of gold, one of silver, and for the third he was simply to divide a stump into two, to mortise out a trough, and to attach a lock. So the smith made the three cases, and took them up to the gallows. The Tsar with all his _boyárs_ looked on to see what was going to happen. And the Tsarévich opened the cases and showed them. On the gold one, very much gold had been poured, on the silver, very much silver had been poured, and the wooden one was buried in dirt. He showed them, and once more opened the cases, and then banged them tight. And the Tsar was even more angry, and he asked Prince Evstáfi: “What is this new insolence of yours?” “My king and my father,” said the Tsarévich Evstáfi, “you are here with the _boyárs_ to value these cases, what they are worth.” Then the _boyárs_ valued the silver case at a high price, and the golden one at a higher price still, and did not deign to look at the wooden one. And Evstáfi Tsarévich said: “Now open the cases and see what is in them.” And they opened the golden case and there were snakes and frogs and all sorts of dirt in it; and looked into the silver one, and they saw the same; and looked into the wooden one, and there trees with leaves and fruit were growing, which emitted sweet odours, and in the middle there was a church and an orchard. And the Tsar was humbled; and did not bid Evstáfi be punished.
Moral of the Story
True value and beauty are often hidden beneath an unassuming exterior, while outward splendor can conceal corruption.
Characters
Tsarévich Evstáfi ★ protagonist
Not explicitly described, but implied to be of noble bearing.
Attire: Princely attire, likely rich fabrics and embroidery, suitable for a Russian Tsarévich.
Compassionate, unconventional, wise, patient, devout.
The Tsar ⚔ antagonist
Not explicitly described, but implied to be a figure of authority and power.
Attire: Regal robes, crown, and other symbols of imperial power, typical of a Russian Tsar.
Authoritarian, quick-tempered, proud, ultimately humbled.
The Silversmith ○ minor
Not explicitly described.
Attire: Workman's attire, appropriate for a craftsman of the era.
Skilled, obedient.
The Boyárs ◆ supporting
Not explicitly described, but implied to be noblemen.
Attire: Rich, traditional Russian noble attire, possibly with fur trim and elaborate hats.
Obsequious, materialistic, easily swayed by appearances.
Locations
The Streets of the Kingdom
The common thoroughfares where the poor, simple folk, and beggars reside.
Mood: humble, bustling, filled with common people
Evstáfi's preferred place to spend his time, leading to his father's anger.
The Gallows
A place of execution, where the Tsarévich is brought to face a cruel death.
Mood: somber, tense, public spectacle, fear
The site of Evstáfi's impending execution and his request for a three-hour interval; where the cases are presented and opened.
Inside the Wooden Case
A miraculous miniature world contained within a simple wooden stump, featuring growing trees with leaves and fruit, emitting sweet odors, and a church and an orchard in the middle.
Mood: magical, serene, fragrant, divine
The revelation of the true value and spiritual beauty, humbling the Tsar and saving Evstáfi.
Story DNA
Moral
True value and beauty are often hidden beneath an unassuming exterior, while outward splendor can conceal corruption.
Plot Summary
Tsarévich Evstáfi's charitable nature angers his father, the Tsar, who condemns him to death. Granted a three-hour reprieve, Evstáfi commissions three chests: one gold, one silver, and one plain wooden stump. At the gallows, the Tsar and his boyárs judge the chests by their opulent exteriors, dismissing the wooden one. However, upon opening them, the gold and silver chests are filled with filth, while the humble wooden one contains a beautiful, fragrant garden and a church, humbling the Tsar and saving Evstáfi's life.
Themes
Emotional Arc
condemnation to vindication
Writing Style
Narrative Elements
Cultural Context
Afanas'ev collected Russian folk tales in the 19th century, often reflecting traditional Russian social structures and moral values. The story implicitly critiques superficial judgment common in aristocratic circles.
Plot Beats (13)
- Tsarévich Evstáfi prefers helping the poor over royal activities, angering his father, the Tsar.
- The Tsar, in his anger, orders Evstáfi to be executed by hanging.
- Evstáfi begs for a three-hour reprieve, which the Tsar grants.
- Evstáfi commissions a silversmith to make three chests: one gold, one silver, and one simple wooden stump with a lock.
- The silversmith delivers the chests to the gallows where the Tsar and his boyárs await.
- Evstáfi opens the chests to show their exteriors: gold, silver, and a dirt-covered wooden one.
- The Tsar, still angry, demands an explanation for this 'insolence'.
- Evstáfi asks the Tsar and boyárs to value the chests based on their appearance.
- The boyárs highly value the gold and silver chests, ignoring the wooden one.
- Evstáfi then instructs them to open the chests to see their true contents.
- The gold and silver chests are found to contain snakes, frogs, and dirt.
- The wooden chest is revealed to contain fragrant trees with leaves and fruit, and a church and an orchard.
- The Tsar is humbled by this demonstration of inner vs. outer value and spares Evstáfi's life.
