Righting Our Wrongs: Peter Christen Asbjornsen’s Fairy Tale, ‘East of the Sun and West of the Moon’

"East of the Sun and West of the Moon" by Peter Christen Asbjornse shows how to right our wrongs. Illustration by Kay Nielsen. Public Domain

As the year draws to a close, we have a chance to reflect on all of our mistakes. The disappointment and despair that can accompany such reflections can be overwhelming and discouraging. Yet we must strive to find our inner strengths and right our wrongs.

In his short story “East of the Sun and West of the Moon,” Peter Christen Asbjornsen follows a young girl as she sets out to win back the prince she’s lost. Asbjornsen shows that courage and perseverance can overcome wrongs and put them to right.

The Story

One day, a large white bear appears and asks the girl’s father for her hand, promising riches and prosperity to her poor family in return. After some hesitation, the lass decides to go with the bear to give her family the good fortune and riches they need.

"'Well, mind and hold tight by my shaggy coat, and then there’s nothing to fear,' said the Bear, so she rode a long, long way." An illustration, 1914, by Kay Nielsen in “East of the Sun and West of the Moon." Public Domain

The Mysterious Man

During her stay with the bear, she realizes that a man comes and sleeps next to her every night. She is agitated, wanting to know who this mysterious man is. But the bear warns her not to be curious.

Finally, in an attempt to discover this mysterious man, she lights a candle. And there, in the bed, is a most handsome prince.

However, her wondrous discovery awakens the prince and he is livid. “'What have you done?’ he cried; ‘now you have made us both unlucky, for had you held out only this one year, I had been freed.’” His stepmother had cursed him to be a bear by day and a man by night.

He tells the lass that he must now leave her and wed a “Princess, with a nose three ells long.” The girl’s curiosity and disobedience parts them; he must now go to the castle “east of the sun and west of the moon.”

Redemption

The lass pleads for forgiveness, but the prince can do nothing. She begs to go with him, but he denies her pleas. Finally, she says that she will search until she finds him again.

The next morning, she sets out to win back her prince. However, it is not easy to find “east of the sun and west of the moon.” She journeys to seek answers from one guide to another, each guide knowing a little more than the last, but none knowing exactly how to reach the castle.

After meeting three hags—the East, West, and South Winds—she finally meets the North Wind, who knows where the castle is. The North Wind carries her “east of the sun and west of the moon.”

At the castle, she is presented with more challenges. The princess with the long nose lets her into the castle only at night, so the prince never sees her. Nevertheless, the girl perseveres, desiring to right her wrong.

Through her, Asbjornsen shows that, despite our many grievous faults, we must persevere to right our wrongs. No matter how difficult or repetitive our troubles and how many times we fail, we must never stop trying to better ourselves.

With difficult circumstances barring our way and the dreadful memory of the mistakes we have made, it might seem sensible to give up.

As we face a new year, we must not let our mistakes prevent us from bettering ourselves and rise. When we overcome our flaws, we gain a better reward and better future than before.

"East of the Sun and West of the Moon" by Peter Christen Asbjornsen shows how to right our wrongs. Editor and illustrator John Patience. Talewater Press