The Puppet-Show Man - Fairy Tale by Hans Christian Andersen

Reading time for children: 13 min

On board a steamer I once met an elderly man, with such a merry face that, if it was really an index of his mind, he must have been the happiest fellow in creation. And indeed he considered himself so, for I heard it from his own mouth. He was a Dane, the owner of a travelling theatre. He had all his company with him in a large box, for he was the proprietor of a puppet-show. His inborn cheerfulness, he said, had been tested by a member of the Polytechnic Institution, and the experiment had made him completely happy.

I did not at first understand all this, but afterwards he explained the whole story to me. And here it is: „I was giving a representation,“ he said, „in the hall of the posting-house in the little town of Slagelse. There was a splendid audience, entirely juvenile excepting two respectable matrons. All at once, a person in black, of student-like appearance, entered the room, and sat down. He laughed aloud at the telling points, and applauded quite at the proper time. This was a very unusual spectator for me, and I felt anxious to know who he was.

I heard that he was a member of the Polytechnic Institution in Copenhagen, who had been sent out to lecture to the people in the provinces. Punctually at eight o’clock my performance closed, for children must go early to bed, and a manager must also consult the convenience of the public. At nine o’clock the lecturer commenced his lecture and his experiments, and then I formed a part of his audience. It was wonderful both to hear and to see.

The greater part of it was beyond my comprehension, but it led me to think that if we men can acquire so much, we must surely be intended to last longer than the little span which extends only to the time when we are hidden away under the earth. His experiments were quite miracles on a small scale, and yet the explanations flowed as naturally as water from his lips. At the time of Moses and the prophets, such a man would have been placed among the sages of the land. In the middle ages they would have burnt him at the stake.

All night long I could not sleep. And the next evening when I gave another performance and the lecturer was present, I was in one of my best moods. I once heard of an actor, who, when he had to act the part of a lover, always thought of one particular lady in the audience. He only played for her, and forgot all the rest of the house, and now the Polytechnic lecturer was my she, my only auditor, for whom alone I played. When the performance was over, and the puppets removed behind the curtain, the Polytechnic lecturer invited me into his room to take a glass of wine.

He talked of my comedies, and I of his science, and I believe we were both equally pleased. But I had the best of it, for there was much in what he did that he could not always explain to me. For instance, why a piece of iron which is rubbed on a cylinder, should become magnetic. How does this happen? The magnetic sparks come to it,– but how? It is the same with people in the world. They are rubbed about on this spherical globe till the electric spark comes upon them, and then we have a Napoleon, or a Luther, or some one of the kind.

„The whole world is but a series of miracles,“ said the lecturer, ‚“but we are so accustomed to them that we call them everyday matters.“ And he went on explaining things to me till my skull seemed lifted from my brain, and I declared that were I not such an old fellow, I would at once become a member of the Polytechnic Institution, that I might learn to look at the bright side of everything, although I was one of the happiest of men.

„One of the happiest!“ said the lecturer, as if the idea pleased him. „Are you really happy?“ – „Yes,“ I replied. „For I am welcomed in every town, when I arrive with my company; but I certainly have one wish which sometimes weighs upon my cheerful temper like a mountain of lead. I should like to become the manager of a real theatre, and the director of a real troupe of men and women.“

„I understand,“ he said. „You would like to have life breathed into your puppets, so that they might be living actors, and you their director. And would you then be quite happy?“ I said I believed so. But he did not; and we talked it over in all manner of ways, yet could not agree on the subject. However, the wine was excellent, and we clanked our glasses together as we drank. There must have been magic in it, or I should most certainly become tipsy; but that did not happen, for my mind seemed quite clear; and, indeed, a kind of sunshine filled the room, and beamed from the eyes of the Polytechnic lecturer.

It made me think of the old stories when the gods, in their immortal youth, wandered upon this earth, and paid visits to mankind. I said so to him, and he smiled; and I could have sworn that he was one of these ancient deities in disguise, or, at all events, that he belonged to the race of the gods. The result seemed to prove I was right in my suspicions. For it was arranged that my highest wish should be granted, that my puppets were to be gifted with life, and that I was to be the manager of a real company.

We drank to my success, and clanked our glasses. Then he packed all my dolls into the box, and fastened it on my back, and I felt as if I were spinning round in a circle, and presently found myself lying on the floor. I remember that quite well. And then the whole company sprang from the box. The spirit had come upon us all. The puppets had become distinguished actors – at least, so they said themselves – and I was their director.

When all was ready for the first representation, the whole company requested permission to speak to me before appearing in public. The dancing lady said the house could not be supported unless she stood on one leg. For she was a great genius, and begged to be treated as such. The lady who acted the part of the queen expected to be treated as a queen off the stage, as well as on it, or else she said she should get out of practice.

The man whose duty it was to deliver a letter gave himself as many airs as he who took the part of first lover in the piece. He declared that the inferior parts were as important as the great ones, and deserving equal consideration, as parts of an artistic whole. The hero of the piece would only play in a part containing points likely to bring down the applause of the house. The prima donna would only act when the lights were red, for she declared that a blue light did not suit her complexion.

It was like a company of flies in a bottle, and I was in the bottle with them. For I was their director. My breath was taken away, my head whirled, and I was as miserable as a man could be. It was quite a novel, strange set of beings among whom I now found myself. I only wished I had them all in my box again, and that I had never been their director. So I told them roundly that, after all, they were nothing but puppets; and then they killed me.

After a while I found myself lying on my bed in my room; but how I got there, or how I got away at all from the Polytechnic professor, he may perhaps know, I don’t. The moon shone upon the floor, the box lay open, and the dolls were all scattered about in great confusion; but I was not idle. I jumped off the bed, and into the box they all had to go, some on their heads, some on their feet. Then I shut down the lid, and seated myself upon the box. „Now you’ll have to stay,“ said I, „and I shall be cautious how I wish you flesh and blood again.“

I felt quite light, my cheerfulness had returned, and I was the happiest of mortals. The Polytechnic professor had fully cured me. I was as happy as a king, and went to sleep on the box. Next morning– correctly speaking, it was noon, for I slept remarkably late that day– I found myself still sitting there, in happy consciousness that my former wish had been a foolish one. I inquired for the Polytechnic professor; but he had disappeared like the Greek and Roman gods. From that time I have been the happiest man in the world.

I am a happy director. For none of my company ever grumble, nor the public either, for I always make them merry. I can arrange my pieces just as I please. I choose out of every comedy what I like best, and no one is offended. Plays that are neglected now-a-days by the great public were ran after thirty years ago, and listened to till the tears ran down the cheeks of the audience. These are the pieces I bring forward. I place them before the little ones, who cry over them as papa and mamma used to cry thirty years ago. But I make them shorter, for the youngsters don’t like long speeches; and if they have anything mournful, they like it to be over quickly.“

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Backgrounds to fairy tale „The Puppet-Show Man“

„The Puppet-Show Man“ is a fairy tale written by Hans Christian Andersen, a Danish author who lived from 1805 to 1875. Andersen is best known for his rich collection of fairy tales, which includes classics like „The Little Mermaid,“ „The Ugly Duckling,“ and „The Emperor’s New Clothes.“ His stories have been translated into numerous languages and continue to be beloved by readers of all ages around the world.

Andersen’s fairy tales often incorporate elements of fantasy, such as talking animals or magical transformations, and contain moral lessons or commentaries on human nature. While some of his stories have happy endings, others are bittersweet or even tragic, reflecting the complexities of life. The background of this fairy tale is rooted in Andersen’s experiences with the world of theater, as he himself was involved in various aspects of the performing arts during his lifetime. His personal experiences helped him create a vivid world that brings to life the joy and challenges faced by the puppet-show man.

The tale reflects themes of creativity, passion, and the importance of art and storytelling. It also illustrates the struggles of an artist who is trying to make a living from his craft while maintaining his integrity and love for the art. The story highlights the power of imagination and the human connection that can be established through storytelling.

„The Puppet-Show Man“ is a lesser-known tale compared to some of Andersen’s more famous works. The story was first published in 1851 and is set in Denmark, where the protagonist, an elderly man who owns a traveling puppet theater, recounts his life experiences and the lessons he has learned about happiness and contentment.

The story likely reflects Andersen’s own experience with the world of theater, as he had a strong interest in the performing arts and even worked as an actor and stagehand in his youth. The tale also explores themes that are common in many of Andersen’s works, such as the pursuit of happiness, the importance of creativity and imagination, and the value of learning and gaining new perspectives.

Interpretations to fairy tale „The Puppet-Show Man“

„The Puppet-Show Man“ can be interpreted in several ways, each emphasizing different themes and messages. Some possible interpretations include:

The grass isn’t always greener on the other side: The protagonist dreams of managing a real theater with human actors, but when his wish is granted, he realizes it isn’t as satisfying as he had imagined. This teaches the importance of being content with what we have and not assuming that other circumstances will automatically bring happiness.

The power of imagination and creativity: The puppet-show man finds great joy and satisfaction in his work because he can control the narrative and choose the best elements from various plays to entertain his audience. This emphasizes the value of creativity and how it can bring happiness not only to the creator but also to those who experience their art.

The dangers of ambition: The protagonist’s ambition to manage real actors leads him to a miserable experience. This can be a warning about the potential pitfalls of striving for something that may not be the right fit or may come with its own set of challenges.

Power of knowledge and perspective: The protagonist’s encounter with the Polytechnic lecturer opens his mind to new ideas and helps him appreciate his own work more. This highlights the importance of learning and gaining new perspectives in our lives to enrich our understanding of the world and ourselves.

The fleeting nature of happiness: The puppet-show man is initially unsatisfied with his life, believing that managing real actors would make him happier. However, after experiencing it, he longs for his old life back. This suggests that happiness is often a subjective and elusive concept, and that it might be wise to appreciate the moments of happiness we already have.

These are just a few possible interpretations of the fairy tale, and individual readers may find their own meanings and lessons within the story, depending on their own experiences and perspectives.

Adaptions of the fairy tale „The Puppet-Show Man“

There are not many well-known adaptations of Hans Christian Andersen’s „The Puppet-Show Man,“ as it is a lesser-known tale compared to some of his other works. However, the story has inspired various adaptations and interpretations in different forms of art and media:

Puppetry performances: Given the subject matter, it is not surprising that the tale has been adapted as a puppet show or a marionette performance by various theater groups and individual puppeteers. Puppetry artists have used the story to showcase their skills, bringing Pjalte and his puppet characters to life on stage.

Children’s Books: The tale of „The Puppet-Show Man“ has been included in various collections of Hans Christian Andersen’s fairy tales, retold and illustrated for younger readers. These adaptations focus on the magic of storytelling, the power of imagination, and the value of pursuing one’s passions. „The puppet-show man“ has been adapted into several children’s books, both in its original form and in simplified versions for younger readers.

Theater: „The puppet-show man“ has been adapted into numerous theater productions over the years. These productions range from small-scale puppet shows to large-scale musicals and plays.

Animation: While there might not be a direct adaptation of „The Puppet-Show Man“ as an animated film or series, the theme of puppets coming to life and the life of a puppeteer have influenced animated works in general. Characters in some animated movies and TV shows have been inspired by the concept of a puppeteer bringing life to their puppets. The story has also been adapted into several animated films, including a 1960 Soviet animated film called „The Puppeteer“ and a 1989 Hungarian film called „The Puppet Showman.“

Thematic inspiration in other works: Although there may not be any direct adaptations of „The Puppet-Show Man,“ the themes and ideas presented in the story can be seen in other works, including novels, plays, and movies that explore the lives of artists, the power of storytelling, and the magic of imagination.

Operas: There have also been several operas based on „The puppet-show man,“ including a 1967 opera by the Danish composer Per Nørgård.

„The puppet-show man“ is a popular fairy tale by Hans Christian Andersen that has been adapted into various forms of media over the years. As „The Puppet-Show Man“ is not one of Andersen’s most famous fairy tales, it has not received the same level of attention and adaptation as stories like „The Little Mermaid“ or „The Ugly Duckling.“ However, its themes and ideas have inspired various artists and creators, leaving their mark on different forms of art and media. Overall, „The puppet-show man“ is a beloved fairy tale that has inspired numerous adaptations in various forms of media over the years, demonstrating its enduring popularity and appeal.

Summary of the plot

„The Puppet-Show Man“ by Hans Christian Andersen is a fairy tale narrating the story of an elderly man, who owns a traveling puppet theater. The man considers himself to be the happiest person alive, as he is always welcomed with joy when he arrives in a town to perform.

One day, while performing in Slagelse, a member of the Polytechnic Institution attends his show and invites him to watch a lecture and experiments afterward. The man becomes fascinated by the wonders of science and the idea that humans are capable of learning so much. He discusses his thoughts with the lecturer and shares his only wish: to be the director of a real theater and manage real actors.

The lecturer, who seems to possess some magical powers, grants the man’s wish, and his puppets come to life. However, the man soon finds that managing living actors is not as pleasant as he imagined, as they all have their own demands and eccentricities. Overwhelmed by the situation, he expresses his regret and desires to have the puppets back in their box.

Suddenly, he finds himself in his room with the puppets scattered around, and he quickly puts them back into the box. The next morning, the man feels lighter and happier, realizing that his previous wish had been a mistake. The Polytechnic professor has disappeared, and the man is now content with his life as a puppet show director, bringing joy and entertainment to children and their families.

Through this tale, Andersen highlights the importance of appreciating what one has and the realization that sometimes what we think will make us happier may actually be less fulfilling than our current situation.

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