The Light Princess is a classic fairy tale by George MacDonald, first published in 1864. It’s a whimsical story with a blend of humor, romance, and fantasy. Here’s a short retelling of the story:
Once upon a time, in a kingdom far, far away, there lived a king and queen who longed for a child. Finally, their wish was granted, and a baby girl was born. However, at the christening, the king forgot to invite his sister, Princess Makemnoit, a spiteful and sour woman with magical powers.
In anger, Princess Makemnoit cursed the baby: “She shall have no gravity!” And so, the little princess was light in body and heart, floating about like a feather.
As the Light Princess grew, she laughed and frolicked, but couldn’t cry or feel sorrow. The King and Queen were worried. “How can we break this curse?” they pondered.
One day, a handsome prince, named Alexander, visited the kingdom. Seeing the floating princess, he said, “What a peculiar sight! But she seems so joyous.”
The princess, floating above, replied playfully, “Come, catch me if you can!”
Prince Alexander tried but couldn’t catch her as she floated away. But he was determined. “I must find a way to help her,” he thought.
He learned about the curse and a possible solution: the princess must experience true sadness to regain her gravity. Alexander spent days with her, telling her stories of the world, its beauty, and its pain.
One day, they discovered that the princess could not float in water. The prince had an idea. He took her to the lake. But tragedy struck – Princess Makemnoit, in her ongoing spite, had cursed the lake to drain away, endangering the kingdom.
Seeing the dying lake and understanding the kingdom’s plight, the princess felt a pang of sadness. She began to cry, her first real tears.
The prince held her, saying, “Your heart has felt sorrow, and your tears show your love for your people.”
With her tears, the lake began to fill again. The princess slowly descended to the ground, her feet touching it for the first time. “I can feel,” she exclaimed, “I can love!”
The curse was broken. The kingdom rejoiced the lake was restored, and the Light Princess found both her gravity and her heart.
The prince and princess grew close, their love blossoming. They eventually married, ruling the kingdom with wisdom and kindness. The Light Princess always remembered the importance of feeling, both joy and sorrow.
And they lived happily ever after.
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Follow Up Questions
Why do you think the princess was floating all the time?
What would you do if you met someone who could float like the Light Princess?
Can you imagine a new friend for the Light Princess in the story? What would they be like?