How the Wicked Sons Were Duped
by Unknown · from Indian Fairy Tales
Adapted Version
Grandpa Karim was a very old man. Grandpa Karim had much money. He had many good things. He had three sons. Grandpa Karim was very old. He gave all his money to his sons. He gave all his things to his sons. He thought he would die soon.
Grandpa Karim did not die. He lived for many more years. His sons had all his money. His sons had all his good things. The three sons were not kind to him. They did not help Grandpa Karim. They did not care for him. They made Grandpa Karim sad. He was very alone. He was very sad.
One day, Grandpa Karim met his friend. His friend's name was Mr. Omar. Grandpa Karim told Mr. Omar he was sad. He told Mr. Omar about his sons. Mr. Omar listened. Mr. Omar felt sad too.
Mr. Omar said, "I will help you." He went home. A few days later, Mr. Omar came back. He came to Grandpa Karim's house. He had four bags. The bags were very full.
Mr. Omar said, "Listen, friend." He said, "These four bags have money." "It is special money for you." "Pretend it is much new money." "Your sons will hear about this money." "Do not let your sons touch these bags." "Keep the bags safe from them always." "Then your sons will be kind to you."
The three sons heard the news. Grandpa Karim had new money. He had special bags of money. The sons talked about this. They were very surprised. They wanted the new money.
The three sons changed their ways. They were kind to Grandpa Karim. They helped Grandpa Karim each day. They talked to him very well. They brought him food. They wanted his new money. Grandpa Karim was not sad now.
The three sons were kind to Grandpa Karim. They were kind for many years. Grandpa Karim was happy then. He lived his last years well. He was not alone. Then, Grandpa Karim died. He died in peace in his bed.
Grandpa Karim died. The three sons were there. They wanted the special bags. They opened the bags very quickly. They were very eager for money. They looked inside the bags. The bags had no money at all. The bags had only stones. They had only small rocks and dirt. The sons were very angry.
Be kind to people. Not just money.
Original Story
How the Wicked Sons were Duped.
very wealthy old man, imagining that he was on the point of death, sent for his sons and divided his property among them. However, he did not die for several years afterwards; and miserable years many of them were. Besides the weariness of old age, the old fellow had to bear with much abuse and cruelty from his sons. Wretched, selfish ingrates! Previously they vied with one another in trying to please their father, hoping thus to receive more money, but now they had received their patrimony, they cared not how soon he left them—nay, the sooner the better, because he was only a needless trouble and expense. And they let the poor old man know what they felt.
One day he met a friend and related to him all his troubles. The friend sympathised very much with him, and promised to think over the matter, and call in a little while and tell him what to do. He did so; in a few days he visited the old man and put down four bags full of stones and gravel before him.
"Look here, friend," said he. "Your sons will get to know of my coming here to-day, and will inquire about it. You must pretend that I came to discharge a long-standing debt with you, and that you are several thousands of rupees richer than you thought you were. Keep these bags in your own hands, and on no account let your sons get to them as long as you are alive. You will soon find them change their conduct towards you. Salaam. I will come again soon to see how you are getting on."
When the young men got to hear of this further increase of wealth they began to be more attentive and pleasing to their father than ever before. And thus they continued to the day of the old man's demise, when the bags were greedily opened, and found to contain only stones and gravel!
Story DNA
Moral
Greed can blind people to true value and lead them to be easily manipulated.
Plot Summary
An old man, after dividing his wealth among his sons, is cruelly neglected by them when he doesn't die as expected. He confides in a friend, who devises a plan: the friend delivers bags of stones and gravel, which the old man pretends are a newly acquired fortune. Upon hearing this, the greedy sons immediately become attentive and kind. They maintain this facade until the old man's death, only to discover the bags contain worthless contents, revealing their true, selfish motives.
Themes
Emotional Arc
suffering to triumph
Writing Style
Narrative Elements
Cultural Context
The use of 'rupees' and 'Salaam' suggests an Indian subcontinent origin, where respect for elders and family honor are traditionally significant.
Plot Beats (9)
- A wealthy old man, believing he is near death, distributes his property among his sons.
- The old man lives for several more years, enduring abuse and cruelty from his sons who now see him as a burden.
- The old man expresses his sorrow and troubles to a trusted friend.
- The friend promises to help and returns a few days later with four bags.
- The friend instructs the old man to pretend the bags contain a large sum of rupees from a long-standing debt, and to keep them from his sons.
- The sons learn of their father's supposed new wealth.
- The sons immediately change their behavior, becoming attentive and kind to their father once more.
- The sons maintain this respectful facade until the old man's death.
- Upon the old man's demise, the sons eagerly open the bags, only to find them filled with stones and gravel.
Characters
The Old Man
A frail and stooped elderly man, likely of South Asian descent given the mention of 'rupees'. His build is thin from age and neglect, with visible signs of weariness. He moves slowly and deliberately.
Attire: Simple, worn, but clean traditional South Asian attire, such as a light-colored cotton kurta and loose-fitting pajamas or a dhoti. The fabric would be plain, perhaps once fine but now faded and mended, reflecting his current neglect despite his past wealth.
Wants: To regain the respect, care, and affection of his sons, and to live his final years in peace and comfort.
Flaw: His initial trust in his sons and his emotional vulnerability to their neglect.
Starts as a miserable, neglected old man, but through his friend's intervention, he regains a semblance of respect and care from his sons, albeit falsely motivated, allowing him to live his final years in relative peace.
Gullible, sorrowful, desperate, forgiving (or at least willing to be appeased), and ultimately clever through the advice of his friend.
The Friend
A man of mature age, likely similar cultural background to the old man, with a steady and reassuring presence. He appears well-maintained, suggesting a comfortable life, perhaps of similar social standing to the old man before his troubles.
Attire: Respectable, traditional South Asian attire, such as a well-made cotton kurta and a vest (waistcoat) or a simple sherwani, indicating his status and good character. The fabric would be of good quality, perhaps in muted, dignified colors.
Wants: To help his distressed friend find peace and regain some dignity in his final years.
Flaw: None explicitly shown, as he acts as a catalyst for positive change.
Acts as a static character, a wise helper who initiates the change in the old man's circumstances.
Sympathetic, wise, clever, loyal, and practical.
The Wicked Sons
Likely three or more adult men, robust and well-fed, reflecting their inherited wealth. They would carry themselves with a sense of entitlement and arrogance. Their physical appearance would be consistent with men from the Indian subcontinent.
Attire: Fine, well-tailored traditional South Asian garments, such as silk kurtas, sherwanis, and perhaps expensive turbans or caps, indicating their wealth and social standing. The fabrics would be rich, possibly with intricate embroidery, reflecting their greed and desire for outward display.
Wants: To acquire more wealth and to rid themselves of their father, whom they view as a burden.
Flaw: Their insatiable greed, which makes them easily manipulated.
They remain static in their greed and selfishness, only changing their behavior superficially due to the prospect of more money. They are ultimately duped and left with nothing but stones.
Greedy, selfish, ungrateful, cruel, manipulative, and ultimately foolish.
Locations
The Old Man's House
The home of a very wealthy old man, likely a traditional Indian dwelling, possibly with multiple rooms or a courtyard, where he lives with his sons after dividing his property.
Mood: Initially tense and neglectful, later shifting to falsely attentive and warm.
The old man endures abuse from his sons, later receives the bags of stones, and eventually dies here, leading to the discovery of the trick.
A Meeting Place with a Friend
An unspecified outdoor location where the old man meets his friend to confide his troubles. This could be a village path, a market square, or a quiet spot under a tree.
Mood: Confidential, sympathetic, hopeful.
The old man confides in his friend about his sons' cruelty, leading to the plan to dupe them.