The Silly Jelly-Fish
by Unknown · from Tales of Laughter: A third fairy book
Adapted Version
King Dragon lived in the deep, blue sea. He had a new, young Queen.
King Dragon married Queen Dragon. She was very young. Soon, Queen Dragon felt very unwell and weak. She was very sad.
Queen Dragon wanted a special, magical fruit. Only a clever Monkey knew about this fruit. This fruit would make her well again. She felt so sad.
King Dragon wanted his Queen to be happy. He called his servant, Jellyfish. "Go to the land," he said. "Ask a Monkey for the special fruit."
Jellyfish was a fish then. He had little legs and bones too. He swam a long way to the land. He saw a clever Monkey.
Jellyfish told Monkey many stories. He said King Dragon's land was a good place. Monkey liked the stories very much. He got on Jellyfish's back. They swam in the deep sea.
They swam a very long way. Monkey felt a bit strange and worried. "Why did you choose me?" he asked.
Jellyfish was very honest. "Queen Dragon needs a special fruit," he said. "It is a magical fruit. It is hidden inside you, clever Monkey."
Monkey was very, very clever. "Oh, my special fruit!" he said. "I left it on a tree on the land. We must go back now." Jellyfish believed him.
They came back to the land. Monkey jumped off fast. He climbed a tall tree quickly. He waved goodbye and laughed. "You are silly, Jellyfish!" he called.
Jellyfish felt very sad. He felt very worried. He swam back to King Dragon. He told him everything.
King Dragon was very, very cross. "Jellyfish is so silly!" he said loudly. He told his guards. "Take away his bones. Take away his legs."
Jellyfish became soft and wobbly. He was like a blob. He lost his bones. He lost his legs. All sea blobs are like this now.
Queen Dragon did not get the special fruit. But she felt better. She was well again.
Monkey was very clever. Jellyfish was not smart. Always think well. Be clever!
Today, sea blobs are soft. They have no bones. Monkeys are very clever!
Original Story
The Silly Jelly-Fish
Once upon a time the king of the dragons, who had till then lived as a bachelor, took it into his head to get married. His bride was a young dragonette just sixteen years old—lovely enough, in very sooth, to become the wife of a king. Great were the rejoicings on the occasion. The fishes, both great and small, came to pay their respects, and to offer gifts to the newly wedded pair; and for some days all was feasting and merriment.
But, alas! even dragons have their trials. Before a month had passed, the young dragon queen fell ill. The doctors dosed her with every medicine that was known to them, but all to no purpose. At last they shook their heads, declaring that there was nothing more to be done. The illness must take its course, and she would probably die. But the sick queen said to her husband:
“I know of something that will cure me. Only fetch me a live monkey’s liver to eat, and I shall get well at once.”
“A live monkey’s liver!” exclaimed the king. “What are you thinking of, my dear? Why! you forget that we dragons live in the sea, while monkeys live far away from here, among the forest trees on land. A monkey’s liver! Why! darling, you must be mad.” Hereupon the young dragon queen burst into tears. “I only ask you for one small thing,” whimpered she, “and you won’t get it for me. I always thought you didn’t really love me. Oh! I wish I had stayed at home with my own m-m-m-mama and my own papa-a-a-a!” Here her voice choked with sobs, and she could say no more.
Well, of course the dragon king did not like to have it thought that he was unkind to his beautiful young wife. So he sent for his trusty servant, the Jelly-fish, and said: “It is 433rather a difficult job, but what I want you to try to do is to swim across to the land, and persuade a live monkey to come here with you. In order to make the monkey willing to come, you can tell him how much nicer everything is here in dragon-land than away where he lives. But what I really want him for is to cut out his liver, and use it as medicine for your young mistress, who, as you know, is dangerously ill.”
So the Jelly-fish went off on his strange errand. In those days he was just like any other fish, with eyes, and fins, and a tail. He even had little feet, which made him able to walk on the land as well as to swim in the water. It did not take him many hours to swim across to the country where the monkeys lived; and, fortunately, there just happened to be a fine monkey skipping about among the branches of the trees near the place where he landed. So the Jelly-fish said: “Mr. Monkey, I have come to tell you of a country far more beautiful than this. It lies beyond the waves, and is called dragon-land. There is pleasant weather there all the year round; there is always plenty of ripe fruit on the trees, and there are none of those mischievous creatures called men. If you will come with me, I will take you there. Just get on my back.”
The monkey thought it would be fun to see a new country. So he leaped on to the Jelly-fish’s back, and off they started across the water. But when they had gone about half-way, he began to fear that perhaps there might be some hidden danger, for it seemed so odd to be fetched suddenly in that way by a stranger. So he said to the Jelly-fish: “What made you think of coming for me?” The Jelly-fish answered: “My master, the king of the dragons, wants you in order to cut out your liver, and give it as medicine to his wife, the queen, who is sick.”
“Oh! that’s your little game, is it?” thought the monkey. But he kept his thoughts to himself, and only said: “Nothing could please me better than to be of service to their Majesties, but it so happens that I left my liver hanging to a branch of that big chestnut-tree where you found me skipping about. 434A liver is a thing that weighs a good deal, so I generally take it out, and play about without it during the daytime. We must go back for it.” The Jelly-fish agreed that there was nothing else to be done under the circumstances; for, silly creature that he was, he did not see that the monkey was telling a story in order to avoid getting killed, and having his liver used as medicine for the fanciful young dragon queen.
When they reached the shore of monkey-land again, the monkey bounded off the Jelly-fish’s back, and up to the topmost branch of the chestnut-tree in less than no time. Then he said: “I do not see my liver here. Perhaps somebody has taken it away. But I will look for it. You, meantime, had better go back and tell your master what has happened. He might be anxious about you if you did not get home before dark.”
So the Jelly-fish started off a second time, and when he got home he told the dragon king everything just as it had happened. But the king flew into a passion with him for his stupidity, and hallooed to his officers, saying: “Away with this fellow! Take him, and beat him to a jelly! Don’t let a single bone remain unbroken in his body!” So the officers seized him and beat him, as the king had commanded. That is the reason why, to this very day, jelly-fishes have no bones, but are just nothing more than a mass of pulp.
As for the dragon queen, when she found she could not have the monkey’s liver, why, she made up her mind that the I only thing to do was to get well without it.
Story DNA
Moral
Foolishness and gullibility can lead to severe consequences, while quick wit can save one from danger.
Plot Summary
The Dragon King's new queen falls ill and demands a live monkey's liver as a cure. The King sends his loyal but foolish servant, the Jelly-fish, to fetch one. The Jelly-fish tricks a monkey into riding on his back to dragon-land, but the monkey grows suspicious and cleverly tricks the Jelly-fish into revealing the true purpose of the journey. The monkey feigns leaving his liver on a tree and escapes, leaving the Jelly-fish to return empty-handed. Enraged by the Jelly-fish's stupidity, the Dragon King orders him beaten until he has no bones, explaining why jellyfishes are soft, while the queen eventually recovers without the liver.
Themes
Emotional Arc
innocence to suffering
Writing Style
Narrative Elements
Cultural Context
This story is a well-known Japanese folk tale, often titled 'The Jellyfish and the Monkey' or 'The Monkey's Liver'.
Plot Beats (13)
- The Dragon King marries, and his young queen falls gravely ill.
- The queen demands a live monkey's liver as the only cure, threatening to die if she doesn't get it.
- The King, unwilling to deny his wife, orders his servant, the Jelly-fish, to trick a monkey into coming to dragon-land for its liver.
- The Jelly-fish, in his original form with feet and bones, travels to land and finds a monkey.
- The Jelly-fish entices the monkey with tales of a paradise in dragon-land, and the monkey agrees to ride on his back across the sea.
- Mid-journey, the monkey becomes suspicious and asks the Jelly-fish why he was chosen.
- The naive Jelly-fish reveals the true, sinister purpose: to cut out the monkey's liver for the queen's medicine.
- The monkey, feigning calm, claims he left his liver hanging on a tree branch and convinces the Jelly-fish to return to land to retrieve it.
- Upon reaching shore, the monkey quickly leaps off the Jelly-fish's back and climbs to the highest branch of a tree, mocking the Jelly-fish.
- The Jelly-fish, realizing his failure, returns to the Dragon King and recounts the entire story.
- The Dragon King, furious at the Jelly-fish's stupidity, orders his officers to beat him until not a single bone remains.
- The Jelly-fish is beaten into a pulpy mass, which is why jellyfishes today have no bones.
- The dragon queen, despite not getting the liver, eventually recovers from her illness.
Characters
Dragon King
A large, powerful dragon, likely with scales that shimmer with regal colors like deep blues, greens, or golds, reflecting his status as king. His build is imposing, suggesting strength and authority. He is accustomed to having his commands followed.
Attire: No specific wardrobe, as he is a dragon, but his scales would be his natural adornment, perhaps with a jeweled crown or circlet on his head to denote his royalty.
Wants: To ensure the happiness and health of his new young queen, and to maintain his authority.
Flaw: His susceptibility to his wife's manipulative tears and his own quick temper, which leads him to punish his loyal servant severely.
He remains largely unchanged, demonstrating his power and quick temper, but also his devotion to his queen, even if it leads to foolish decisions.
Authoritative, easily swayed by his wife's emotions, prone to fits of rage, somewhat naive about the ways of the land, and ultimately decisive.
Dragon Queen
A beautiful young dragonette, sixteen years old, with scales that might be lighter and more vibrant than her husband's, perhaps in shades of pearl, rose, or light blue, reflecting her youth and beauty. Her build is slender and graceful.
Attire: No specific wardrobe, as she is a dragon, but her natural scales would be her adornment, perhaps with delicate jewels or pearls woven into her crests or around her neck.
Wants: To get what she wants, specifically a monkey's liver, believing it will cure her, and to ensure her husband's devotion.
Flaw: Her extreme vanity and belief in a fanciful cure, her manipulative nature, and her self-pity.
She begins as a demanding, manipulative invalid but ultimately shows a pragmatic side by deciding to get well without the desired cure when it proves impossible to obtain.
Vain, manipulative, demanding, self-pitying, and ultimately resilient (when her demands are not met).
Jelly-fish
Initially, a fish-like creature with eyes, fins, a tail, and small feet allowing it to walk on land. After punishment, it becomes a boneless, pulpy mass, transparent and gelatinous.
Attire: None, as a sea creature.
Wants: To faithfully serve its master, the Dragon King, and carry out his commands.
Flaw: Extreme gullibility and lack of critical thinking, which leads to its downfall.
Undergoes a drastic physical transformation from a fish-like creature with bones and feet to a boneless, pulpy jellyfish due to its master's anger and its own gullibility.
Trusty, obedient, naive, gullible, literal-minded, and ultimately unfortunate.
Monkey
A fine, agile monkey, likely of a species native to the region where the story originated (e.g., a macaque or langur in an East Asian context). Agile and quick, with nimble limbs and a prehensile tail.
Attire: None, as a wild animal.
Wants: To explore new places for fun, and then, crucially, to save his own life.
Flaw: Initially, a bit too trusting and easily lured by promises of a better land.
Begins as a curious adventurer, then quickly transforms into a cunning survivor, successfully outwitting his would-be executioner.
Clever, quick-witted, resourceful, cautious, and self-preserving.
Locations
Dragon King's Underwater Palace
A grand, opulent palace beneath the sea, likely constructed from coral, mother-of-pearl, and possibly bioluminescent materials, with vast chambers and halls suitable for royal gatherings and feasting. It would reflect a fantastical East Asian aesthetic, perhaps with flowing, organic forms mimicking underwater currents.
Mood: Initially festive and joyous, then shifts to anxious and demanding due to the queen's illness.
The dragon king marries; the queen falls ill and demands a monkey's liver; the king dispatches the Jelly-fish on its errand; the Jelly-fish returns and is punished.
Monkey-land Shore and Chestnut Tree
A vibrant, tropical coastline with a sandy shore leading to a dense forest. A prominent, ancient chestnut tree with sturdy branches stands near the water's edge, providing a habitat for monkeys. The air is warm and humid.
Mood: Initially inviting and adventurous, then becomes tense and cunning as the monkey outwits the Jelly-fish.
The Jelly-fish lands and encounters the monkey; the monkey tricks the Jelly-fish into returning to retrieve its 'liver'.
Open Ocean
The vast, open expanse of the sea, connecting the underwater dragon kingdom with the land of monkeys. The surface is calm, reflecting the sky above, while beneath, the water is deep and clear.
Mood: Initially hopeful and adventurous, then shifts to suspenseful and revealing as the monkey questions the Jelly-fish.
The Jelly-fish transports the monkey across the sea; the monkey learns of the plan to take its liver.