[PUSS-IN-BOOTS](#contents)
by Unknown · from Favorite Fairy Tales
Adapted Version
Once upon a time, there was a miller. He had three sons. The Miller's Son got only a cat. He was very sad. "I will be hungry," he thought.
Puss spoke. "Give me boots," he said. "Give me a bag too. I will help you get rich." He was surprised.
Puss put on his boots. He took his bag. He caught a fat rabbit. Puss went to The King. "This is for you," he said. "From the Marquis of Oak."
Puss brought more gifts. He brought birds. He brought other small pets. The King was happy. He thought the Marquis was real.
Puss heard news. The King and The Princess would drive. They would go by the river. Puss told his master, "Swim there."
The Miller's Son went to swim. Puss hid his old clothes. He shouted, "Help! My master drowns!" The King stopped his coach. He gave the boy new, fancy clothes.
The Princess saw the boy. He wore new, fine clothes. He looked very handsome. The Princess liked him much. She smiled at him.
Puss ran very fast. He saw farmers in a field. "Say this land is for him!" Puss said. The farmers said yes. The King was impressed. He saw big lands.
Puss came to a castle. It was a very big place. A scary Ogre lived there. All the King's lands were his.
Puss spoke to The Ogre. "Can you be a lion?" he asked. The Ogre became a big lion. "Can you be a tiny mouse?" Puss asked. The Ogre became a mouse.
The Ogre was a small mouse. Puss was very fast. He caught the tiny mouse. The Ogre was gone.
The King and The Princess arrived. They came to the big castle. Puss greeted them. "Welcome!" he said. "This is the Marquis's castle!"
The King was very happy. He saw the big castle. He saw the handsome boy. "Marry my daughter!" The King said. The boy said yes.
The Miller's Son married The Princess. He became a Prince. He was very rich now. He was very happy.
Puss was happy too. He was called Puss. He lived a good life. He hunted for fun. He did not hunt for food.
Smart is often better than big or rich. All lived well ever after.
Original Story
PUSS-IN-BOOTS
THERE was once a Miller, who, at his death, had nothing to leave to his three sons except his mill, his ass, and his cat. The eldest son took the mill, the second took the ass—and as for the youngest, all that remained for him was the cat.
The youngest son grumbled at this. "My brothers," said he, "will be able to earn an honest living; but when I have eaten my cat and sold his skin I shall die of hunger."
The Cat, who was sitting beside him, overheard this.
"Nay, Master," he said, "don't take such a gloomy view of things. If you will get me a pair of boots made so that I can walk through the brambles without hurting my feet, and give me a bag, you shall soon see what I am worth."
The Cat's master was so surprised to hear his Cat talking, that he at once got him what he wanted. The Cat drew on the boots and slung the bag round his neck and set off for a rabbit warren. When he got there he filled his bag with bran and lettuces, and stretching himself out beside it as if dead, waited until some young rabbit should be tempted into the bag. This happened very soon. A fat, thoughtless rabbit went in headlong, and the Cat at once jumped up, pulled the strings and killed him.
Puss was very proud of his success, and, going to the King's palace, he asked to speak to the King. When he was shown into the King's presence he bowed respectfully, and, laying the rabbit down before the throne, he said—
"Sire, here is a rabbit, which my master, the Marquis of Carabas, desires me to present to your Majesty."
"Tell your master," said the King, "that I accept his present, and am very much obliged to him."
A few days later, the Cat went and hid himself in a cornfield and laid his bag open as before. This time two splendid partridges were lured into the trap, and these also he took to the Palace and presented to the King from the Marquis of Carabas. The King was very pleased with this gift, and ordered the messenger of the Marquis of Carabas to be handsomely rewarded.
For two or three months the Cat went on in this way, carrying game every day to the Palace, and saying it was sent by the Marquis of Carabas.
At last the Cat happened to hear that the King was going to take a drive on the banks of the river, with his daughter, the most beautiful Princess in the world. He at once went to his master.
"Master," said he, "if you follow my advice, your fortune will be made. Go and bathe in the river at a place I shall show you, and I will do the rest."
"Very well," said the Miller's son, and he did as the Cat told him. When he was in the water, the Cat took away his clothes and hid them, and then ran to the road, just as the King's coach went by, calling out as loudly as he could—
"Help, help! The Marquis of Carabas will be drowned."
The King looked out of the carriage window, and when he saw the Cat who had brought him so many fine rabbits and partridges, he ordered his bodyguards to fly at once to the rescue of the Marquis of Carabas.
Then the Cat came up to the carriage and told the King that while his master was bathing some robbers had stolen all his clothes. The King immediately ordered one of his own magnificent suits of clothes to be taken to the Marquis; so when the Miller's son appeared before the monarch and his daughter, he looked so handsome, and was so splendidly attired, that the Princess fell in love with him on the spot.
The King was so struck with his appearance that he insisted upon his getting into the carriage to take a drive with them.
The Cat, delighted with the way his plans were turning out, ran on before. He reached a meadow where some peasants were making hay.
"Good people," said he, "if you do not tell the King, when he comes this way, that the meadow you are mowing belongs to the Marquis of Carabas, you shall all be chopped up into little pieces."
When the King came by, he stopped to ask the haymakers to whom the meadow belonged.
"To the Marquis of Carabas, if it please Your Majesty," answered they, trembling, for the Cat's threat had frightened them terribly.
The Cat, who continued to run before the carriage, now came to some reapers.
"Good people," said he, "if you do not tell the King that all this corn belongs to the Marquis of Carabas, you shall all be chopped up into little pieces."
The King again stopped to ask to whom the land belonged, and the reapers, obedient to the Cat's command, answered—
"To the Marquis of Carabas, please Your Majesty."
And all the way the Cat kept running on before the carriage, repeating the same instructions to all the laborers he came to; so that the King became very astonished at the vast possessions of the Marquis of Carabas.
At last the Cat arrived at a great castle, where an Ogre lived who was very rich, for all the lands through which the King had been riding were part of his estate. The Cat knocked at the castle door, and asked to see the Ogre.
The Ogre received him very civilly, and asked him what he wanted.
"If you please, sir," said the Cat, "I have heard that you have the power of changing yourself into any sort of animal you please—and I came to see if it could possibly be true."
"So I have," replied the Ogre, and in a moment he turned himself into a lion. This gave the Cat a great fright, and he scrambled up the curtains to the ceiling.
"Indeed, sir," he said, "I am now quite convinced of your power to turn yourself into such a huge animal as a lion; but I do not suppose you can change yourself into a small one—such as a mouse, for instance?"
"Indeed, I can," cried the Ogre, indignantly; and in a moment the lion had vanished, while a little brown mouse frisked about the floor.
In less than half a second the Cat sprang down from the curtains and, pouncing upon the mouse, ate him all up before the Ogre had time to return to any other shape.
And when the King arrived at the castle gates, there stood the Cat upon the doorstep, bowing and saying—
"Welcome to the castle of the Marquis of Carabas!"
The Marquis helped the King and the Princess to alight, and the Cat led them into a great hall, where a feast had been spread for the Ogre.
The King was so delighted with the good looks, the charming manners, and the great wealth of the Marquis of Carabas, that he said the Marquis must marry his daughter.
The Marquis, of course, replied that he should be only too happy; and the very next day he and the Princess were married.
As for the Cat, he was given the title of Puss-in-Boots, and ever after only caught mice for his own amusement.
Story DNA
Moral
Intelligence and cunning can be more valuable than inherited wealth or status.
Plot Summary
A miller's youngest son inherits only a cat and faces destitution. The intelligent cat, Puss, requests boots and a bag, then embarks on an elaborate scheme to make his master's fortune. He presents game to the King under the guise of a wealthy 'Marquis of Carabas', orchestrates a staged 'drowning' to get his master fine clothes and introduce him to the Princess, and intimidates peasants into claiming their lands belong to the Marquis. Finally, Puss tricks a powerful Ogre into transforming into a mouse and devours him, claiming the Ogre's vast castle and estates for his master. The King, impressed by the 'Marquis's' apparent wealth and charm, arranges his marriage to the Princess, securing the Miller's son's future, while Puss lives a life of leisure.
Themes
Emotional Arc
despair to triumph
Writing Style
Narrative Elements
Cultural Context
The story reflects societal aspirations for upward mobility and the power of wit in a class-structured society, common themes in European folklore.
Plot Beats (15)
- A miller's youngest son inherits only a cat and despairs over his future.
- The cat speaks, requesting boots and a bag, promising to make his master's fortune.
- Puss catches a rabbit and presents it to the King as a gift from the 'Marquis of Carabas'.
- Puss continues to bring game to the King over several months, establishing the Marquis's existence.
- Puss learns the King and Princess will drive by the river and instructs his master to bathe there.
- Puss hides his master's clothes and cries for help, leading the King to 'rescue' the Marquis and provide him with fine attire.
- The Princess is smitten with the handsomely dressed Miller's son.
- Puss runs ahead, threatening peasants to claim their fields belong to the Marquis of Carabas, impressing the King with his master's vast estates.
- Puss arrives at an Ogre's castle, whose lands comprise all the King has seen.
- Puss challenges the Ogre's transformation abilities, first into a lion, then into a mouse.
- Puss quickly eats the Ogre in his mouse form.
- The King and Princess arrive at the castle, where Puss welcomes them to the Marquis's domain.
- The King, convinced of the Marquis's wealth and charm, offers his daughter's hand in marriage.
- The Miller's son marries the Princess and becomes a Prince.
- Puss is given the title Puss-in-Boots and lives a life of luxury, only hunting for sport.
Characters
Puss-in-Boots
A sleek, agile domestic cat of average size, with a lithe build. His fur is a rich, dark ginger or tabby pattern, well-groomed and shiny. He moves with a confident, almost human-like grace.
Attire: His signature attire consists of a pair of custom-made, sturdy, dark brown leather boots that reach just below his knees, allowing him to walk upright and through brambles. He also wears a simple, functional canvas or burlap bag slung over his shoulder or around his neck.
Wants: To elevate his master's status and, by extension, his own, securing a comfortable and respected life for both of them.
Flaw: His ambition can lead him to take significant risks, and his pride in his cleverness might make him underestimate a truly formidable opponent.
Transforms from a mere pet into a titled, respected figure (Puss-in-Boots) who secures his master's fortune and his own leisure, no longer needing to hunt for survival but for sport.
Cunning, resourceful, ambitious, loyal (to his master's advancement), and manipulative. He is a master strategist, always several steps ahead.
The Miller's Son
Initially appears as an average, somewhat despondent young man of moderate height and build, likely with the calloused hands of a laborer. After being dressed by the King, he transforms into a strikingly handsome figure, well-proportioned and graceful.
Attire: Initially, simple, worn peasant clothes of coarse linen and wool in muted earth tones. After the Cat's intervention, he wears a magnificent, richly embroidered suit of royal blue velvet with silver buttons and fine lace cuffs, a crisp white linen shirt, and polished leather shoes, befitting a prince.
Wants: To avoid poverty and secure a stable, comfortable life, which quickly escalates to marrying the Princess and becoming a Marquis.
Flaw: Lack of initiative and self-reliance; he is entirely dependent on the Cat's schemes.
Transforms from a penniless, despairing peasant into the wealthy and titled Marquis of Carabas, marrying a princess and securing a royal future, all through the machinations of his cat.
Initially despondent and passive, he is easily swayed by the Cat's advice. He is trusting, agreeable, and ultimately charming enough to win the Princess's affection once his appearance is improved.
The King
A dignified, portly elderly man of regal bearing, with a benevolent but somewhat naive expression. He is likely of average height for his era, with a comfortable, well-fed build.
Attire: Rich, heavy royal robes of deep crimson or purple velvet, trimmed with ermine fur and gold embroidery. He wears a golden crown adorned with jewels and a heavy gold chain or medallion around his neck. His attire signifies immense wealth and power.
Wants: To ensure the happiness and prosperity of his kingdom and his daughter, and to find a suitable, wealthy husband for her.
Flaw: His gullibility and susceptibility to flattery and outward displays of wealth; he doesn't question the Cat's claims.
Remains largely unchanged, serving as the benevolent authority figure whose decisions drive the plot forward. He is a catalyst for the Miller's Son's rise.
Benevolent, easily impressed, generous, and somewhat gullible. He is fond of gifts and quickly takes a liking to the 'Marquis of Carabas' based on appearances and the Cat's stories.
The Princess
Described as 'the most beautiful Princess in the world,' she possesses classic beauty, likely with a slender, graceful figure and delicate features. Her presence is captivating.
Attire: Exquisite, fashionable gown of the period, made of fine silk or satin in a soft, elegant color like pale blue, rose, or ivory. The dress would feature intricate embroidery, delicate lace, and perhaps a fitted bodice with a flowing skirt, reflecting her royal status and beauty.
Wants: To find love and marry a suitable, charming, and wealthy husband.
Flaw: Her susceptibility to outward appearances and romantic ideals, leading her to fall in love quickly without deeper knowledge.
Remains largely unchanged, serving as the romantic prize for the Miller's Son. She represents the ultimate goal of the Cat's scheme.
Romantic, impressionable, and kind. She is quickly smitten by the handsome appearance and supposed wealth of the 'Marquis of Carabas.'
The Ogre
A large, imposing, and likely grotesque figure, embodying immense physical power. He is described as very rich, implying a certain opulence despite his monstrous nature. When he transforms into a lion, he is huge and terrifying.
Attire: Though not explicitly described, as a rich Ogre, he might wear opulent but ill-fitting or roughly made garments, perhaps of dark, heavy fabrics, possibly adorned with crude gold or jewels, reflecting his wealth but not his refinement.
Wants: To maintain his vast wealth and power, and to demonstrate his magical abilities.
Flaw: His immense pride and overconfidence in his shapeshifting abilities, which lead him to fall for the Cat's trick.
Serves as the final obstacle to the Cat's plan. He is outsmarted and devoured by Puss-in-Boots, leading to his demise and the transfer of his wealth.
Proud, arrogant, powerful, and easily tricked. He is confident in his magical abilities but lacks true cunning, making him vulnerable to the Cat's psychological manipulation.
Locations
Miller's Cottage
A humble, likely half-timbered cottage with a thatched roof, typical of a German miller's dwelling, where the youngest son receives his inheritance.
Mood: somber, humble, uncertain
The youngest son inherits the cat and expresses his despair, prompting the cat to speak and reveal his cleverness.
Rabbit Warren / Cornfield
A wild, untamed area with brambles and dense vegetation, later a cultivated cornfield, where Puss hunts game for the King.
Mood: natural, strategic, cunning
Puss-in-Boots demonstrates his hunting prowess and cunning by luring rabbits and partridges into his bag.
Royal Palace
A grand, opulent palace, likely in a late medieval or early Renaissance German style, with a throne room where the King receives visitors.
Mood: regal, formal, impressive
Puss-in-Boots presents his 'master's' gifts to the King, establishing the fictional Marquis of Carabas.
River Bank and Surrounding Countryside
A picturesque river bank with clear water, leading to expansive meadows and cornfields, all part of the Ogre's vast estate.
Mood: idyllic, pastoral, deceptive
The King encounters the 'Marquis of Carabas' bathing, and Puss-in-Boots orchestrates the deception about the Marquis's vast land ownership.
Ogre's Castle
A formidable, ancient German castle, likely a medieval fortress, with a grand hall suitable for a feast, now claimed by Puss-in-Boots.
Mood: imposing, magical, triumphant
Puss-in-Boots tricks and devours the Ogre, claiming the castle for the Marquis of Carabas, and the King arrives to a grand welcome.