DER MANN MIT DEN ZWEI FRAUEN
by Friedrich Giese · from Türkische Märchen
Adapted Version
Once there was a man. He had hair and a beard.
A man had two women. They liked him very much. He spent time with both women. He liked to visit them. He spent one night with one. He spent the next night with the other. He shared his time.
The Man was not young. He was getting older. His hair was not all dark. His beard was not all dark. Some hairs were grey. Some hairs were white. His hair showed his age.
The Man liked to rest his head. He felt tired sometimes. He put his head on a woman's lap. He did this in the morning. He liked to sleep more. It was a nice rest.
One day, he slept. He slept on The Older Woman's lap. She looked at his beard. She saw his beard. She saw black hairs. She saw white hairs too. She thought about his hair.
The Older Woman saw black hairs. She wanted him to look old. She pulled out the black hairs. She pulled them out softly. She was very quiet. The Man did not know. He kept sleeping.
The next day, he slept. He slept on The Younger Woman's lap. She looked at his beard. She saw his beard. She saw white hairs. She saw black hairs too. She thought about his hair.
The Younger Woman saw white hairs. She wanted him to look young. She pulled out the white hairs. She pulled them out softly. She was very quiet. The Man did not know. He kept sleeping.
This happened many times. Each woman pulled out hairs. Each woman changed his hair. She wanted him to change. She wanted him to look different. The Man did not know this. He felt no pain.
One day, The Man heard people. They laughed at him. They talked about his beard. They made loud sounds. The Man did not know why. He felt very strange.
The Man touched his beard. He touched his head. He felt his skin. He had no hair. His beard was gone. His head was bald. He was very surprised. He felt very sad. He had no hair left. He looked so different.
The man had no hair. The women changed him. It is not good to change people. It is best to let people be themselves. Let people be happy.
Original Story
62. DER MANN MIT DEN ZWEI FRAUEN
Ein Mann hatte zwei Frauen, die eine war alt, die andere zart wie ein Rosenblatt. Er selbst war über die Zeit der Jugend hinaus, und sein Haar und Bart fingen an grau zu werden. Er liebte beide Frauen und behandelte die eine wie die andere derart, daß er die eine Nacht bei der einen und die andere Nacht bei der andern zubrachte. Er hatte die Gewohnheit, des Morgens, bevor er aufstand, seinen Kopf seiner Frau auf den Schoß zu legen und noch etwas zu schlafen. Als er eines Tages so im Schoße der alten Frau schlief, sah diese, daß in seinem Bart einzelne weiße Haare waren. Sie sagte zu sich: „Ich werde ihm die schwarzen Haare herausschneiden und ihn des Schmuckes der Jugend berauben, damit die andere Frau, die ihn für jung hält, seiner überdrüssig wird, wenn sie das weiße Haar sieht, und damit er sich dann aus Ärger über diese Zurücksetzung ganz mir anschließt.“ In diesem Gedanken beseitigte sie, soweit als möglich die schwarzen Haare.
Am nächsten Morgen schlief er im Schoße der jungen Frau. Als diese unter den weißen Haaren einige schwarze sah, die der Schere der alten Frau entgangen waren, sagte sie: „Ich werde die weißen Haare entfernen, so daß er sich noch für jung hält, des Verkehrs mit der alten Frau überdrüssig wird und nur Verlangen nach mir hat.“ Sie schnitt also, soweit sie konnte, die weißen Haare ab. So verging einige Zeit. Eines Tages hörte er, daß einige Leute zueinander sprachen und sich über seinen Bart lustig machten. Er faßte nach seinem Barte und sah, daß überhaupt kein Haar mehr geblieben war.
Story DNA
Moral
Attempting to please everyone or manipulate appearances for personal gain can lead to losing everything.
Plot Summary
A man with two wives, one old and one young, tries to maintain a balance between them. Both wives, driven by jealousy, secretly manipulate his appearance: the old wife plucks out his black hairs to make him seem older, while the young wife plucks out his white hairs to make him seem younger. Over time, this continuous plucking leaves the man completely bald, a fact he discovers only when he overhears people mocking his hairless face, becoming a victim of his wives' selfish desires.
Themes
Emotional Arc
complacency to humiliation
Writing Style
Narrative Elements
Cultural Context
Friedrich Giese collected and published this tale, which reflects common themes of human folly found in folk literature.
Plot Beats (10)
- A man has two wives, one old and one young, and divides his time equally between them.
- The man is past his youth, with a beard and hair starting to turn gray.
- He has a habit of resting his head on his wife's lap in the morning.
- While sleeping on the old wife's lap, she notices his graying beard.
- The old wife, wanting to make him less attractive to the young wife, secretly plucks out his black hairs.
- The next morning, while sleeping on the young wife's lap, she notices the remaining black hairs among the white.
- The young wife, wanting to make him seem younger and more desirable to herself, secretly plucks out his white hairs.
- This cycle of plucking continues for some time, with each wife removing hairs to suit her own agenda.
- One day, the man overhears people laughing and making fun of his beard.
- He touches his beard and discovers that he has been left completely bald.
Characters
Der Mann
A man past his youth, with a build that suggests he was once robust, now showing the subtle signs of aging. His skin might be slightly weathered from time and experience, but not yet deeply lined. He is of average height for a German man of the era.
Attire: Typical German attire for a man of moderate means in the 19th century. This would include a sturdy linen or wool shirt, perhaps a waistcoat, and practical trousers. His clothing would be clean and well-kept, reflecting his status as a man with a household, but not ostentatious. Likely in muted, earthy tones like browns, greys, or dark blues.
Wants: To maintain harmony and affection with both of his wives, and to enjoy the comforts of his domestic life.
Flaw: Naivety and a lack of awareness regarding the subtle rivalries between his wives. His vanity about his appearance also makes him vulnerable.
He begins as a man enjoying his domestic bliss, oblivious to the underlying tensions. He ends up humiliated and hairless, realizing the consequences of his wives' rivalry and his own lack of attention.
Content, somewhat passive, trusting, perhaps a little vain about his appearance, and ultimately oblivious to the machinations around him.
Die Alte Frau
An older German woman, likely with a slightly stooped posture from age, but still possessing a certain strength. Her hands might be gnarled from work, and her skin shows the natural lines and wrinkles of many years.
Attire: Practical and modest German peasant or middle-class attire for an older woman of the 19th century. This would include a long, dark wool skirt, a plain linen blouse, and a sturdy apron. Her clothing would be functional, in muted colors like dark blue, brown, or grey, possibly with a simple patterned shawl over her shoulders.
Wants: To make her husband appear older and less attractive to the younger wife, thereby securing his exclusive affection and attention for herself.
Flaw: Her jealousy and insecurity drive her to destructive actions.
She initiates the conflict by attempting to manipulate her husband's appearance for her own gain, but her actions ultimately backfire, leading to her husband's humiliation.
Jealous, cunning, possessive, and manipulative. She is determined to secure her husband's full attention.
Die Junge Frau
A young German woman, described as 'zart wie ein Rosenblatt' (tender as a rose petal), suggesting a delicate and graceful build. She is likely slender and possesses the fresh complexion of youth.
Attire: Graceful and perhaps slightly more decorative German attire for a young woman of the 19th century. This could include a light-colored linen or cotton dress, possibly with some simple embroidery, and a fitted bodice. Colors would be softer, like pale blues, greens, or pinks, reflecting her 'rose petal' description. She might wear a delicate shawl or a small decorative apron.
Wants: To make her husband appear younger and more attractive to herself, thereby making him lose interest in the older wife and desire only her.
Flaw: Her vanity and insecurity about her husband's aging, leading her to destructive actions.
She responds to the older wife's actions with her own manipulation, contributing to her husband's eventual humiliation, but without learning a lesson herself.
Youthful, somewhat vain, possessive, and equally manipulative as the older wife, driven by a desire to maintain her husband's youthful appearance and secure his affection.
Locations
The Man's Bedroom (with the Older Wife)
A private, intimate space within a traditional German Fachwerk house, likely with a sturdy wooden bed. The room would be dimly lit in the early morning, with light filtering through small, leaded-pane windows. The air is still and quiet, conducive to sleep.
Mood: Intimate, subtly scheming, quiet
The older wife discovers white hairs in the man's beard and secretly cuts out the black ones, hoping to make him appear older to the younger wife.
The Man's Bedroom (with the Younger Wife)
Another private bedroom within the same German Fachwerk house, similar in structure but perhaps with slightly more delicate or decorative touches reflecting the younger wife's presence. Early morning light again filters into the room, creating a soft, intimate glow.
Mood: Intimate, subtly manipulative, quiet
The younger wife discovers remaining white hairs in the man's beard and secretly cuts them out, hoping to make him appear younger and more desirable to her.
Village Street or Public Square
A bustling public space in a German village, likely with cobblestone paths, half-timbered houses lining the street, and perhaps a market stall or well. The air is filled with the sounds of daily life and conversations. Sunlight would be bright and clear, indicating mid-day.
Mood: Public, gossipy, revealing, slightly embarrassing
The man overhears villagers mocking his beard, leading him to discover that he has no hair left.