Not Kidding Around: ‘The Wolf and the Seven Little Kids’

The seven kids of a mother goat learn the importance of trust and honesty in this tale compiled by the Brothers Grimm.

An illustration by Otto Ubbelohde for the 1909 edition of "The Wolf and the Seven Little Kids." Public Domain

As we try to uphold virtue, combatting the evil of the world can be difficult, especially when it disguises itself as good. Sometimes, no matter how hard we try to keep it out, evil deceitfully slips into our lives and greedily wrecks havoc. Nevertheless, virtue can overcome evil.

The Brothers Grimm contemplated this perpetual struggle against the evil of the world in their fairy tale “The Wolf and the Seven Little Kids.” Through this story in particular, they highlighted the superiority and importance of honesty and benevolence over greed and deceit. For, as the wolf and kids soon learn, deceit and greed fulfill one’s desires, but those desires remain empty of anything truly beneficial.

Kids at Home

One day an old mother goat needs to journey into the forest to get food. But, before she leaves, she warns her seven young kids to beware of the wolf. She tells them, “The wretch often disguises himself, but you will know him at once by his rough voice and his black feet.”

After she issues her warning, the young kids, the young kids reassure their mother that they will remain alert and attentive, making sure to not be fooled. The mother goat, reassured, and heads into the forest.

A postcard depicting the story "The Wolf and the Seven Little Kids," illustrated by Oskar Herrfurth. Public Domain

Soon after their mother leaves, the kids hear a knock on the door. A voice from outside calls to them: “Open the door, dear children; your mother is here, and has brought something back with her for each of you.”

The children immediately recognize the rough voice as the wolf’s and rebuke him for trying to sound like their sweet mother’s voice. They refuse to let him in.

A little while later, the kids hear another knock on the door. This time, the voice is soft like their mother’s: “Open the door, dear children, your mother is here.”

Though they feel comforted by the voice, the kids notice the black paws on the windows. These black paws do not belong to their mother, but to the wolf. Again they rebuke the wolf and refuse to open the door.

Not Kidding Around

They soon hear a third knock on the door and a soft voice that entreats them to open the door. The wary kids say: “First show us your paws that we may know if you are our dear little mother.” White paws are shown and the kids rejoice.

However, when they open the door, they find the wolf on their doorstep. In fear, the kids scatter throughout the house and hide, hoping that the wolf won’t find them.

The wolf pounces, in a postcard illustrated by Oskar Herrfurth, depicting the story "The Wolf and the Seven Little Kids." Public Domain

Through this story, the Brothers Grimm acknowledged the difficult struggle that all humans face: Keeping evil out. When it comes to the evil outside our door, we shouldn’t kid around, but be willing to battle deceit and greed with honesty and benevolence.

In this battle with greed and deceit, the brothers Grimm present the remedy, as J.R.R. Tolkien wrote in “The Hobbit”: “There is more in you of good than you know, child of the kindly West. Some courage and some wisdom, blended in measure. If more of us valued food and cheer and song above hoarded gold, it would be a merrier world.”

Only by cultivating a life of simple virtues, such as honesty and goodness, can we combat the evil around us. The more we seek virtue and are content with simple enjoyments, the more meaning and joy will fill the world, so that, in turn, evil cannot get in the door.

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