Long ago in a distant Albanian village, there lived three sisters whose lives were as different as the seasons. The eldest was proud and ambitious, the second shrewd and envious, and the youngest, a maiden of rare beauty and pure heart. Her face glowed like dawn over the mountains, her hair shimmered like dark silk, and her nature was so gentle that even the birds sang sweeter when she passed by.
It was said that her beauty was touched by fate itself, for on her forehead shone a star, and upon her chest gleamed a tiny crescent moon. Her light was not just outward, it was the quiet radiance of kindness and innocence. But as her fame spread across valleys and villages, envy took root in the hearts of her older sisters.
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The two elder sisters could not bear that their youngest, once a child they had cradled, now drew the admiration of everyone who saw her. Each day their jealousy grew darker, until love turned to hatred.
The Plot of Envy
One morning, the eldest proposed a cruel plan. “Let us take her to the woods,” she said, her voice trembling with deceit, “and gather berries for our mother. There we shall be rid of her forever.”
The middle sister, eager for her own glory, agreed. They led the unsuspecting girl deep into the forest, far beyond where the birds sang or the sunlight reached. When the youngest bent down to pluck a wildflower, they slipped away, leaving her alone among the trees.
When she realized she had been abandoned, the girl called out for her sisters, her soft voice echoing through the woods. Only the wind replied. Tears welled in her eyes, but she refused to despair. Guided by the light from the star upon her brow, she wandered until she came upon a small cottage beside a stream.
Inside lived an old woman, frail yet kind-eyed, who offered her food and shelter. “Stay here, child,” the woman said. “The world is cruel, but your light will not go unnoticed forever.”
The Prince’s Discovery
One day, as fate would have it, the king’s son rode through the forest on a hunt. His hounds paused before the cottage, refusing to move forward. Curious, the prince dismounted and peered through the open window.
There he saw the maiden, her star and moon aglow even in the dim light of the room. The prince was struck silent by her beauty and her serene grace. He entered, greeted the old woman, and asked to know the maiden’s name and story. When he learned how she had been abandoned, his heart filled with pity and admiration.
He brought her to the royal palace, where she was treated with honor. In time, the prince fell deeply in love with her, and their union was celebrated with joy across the kingdom. The once-lost girl became a princess, shining brighter than ever before.
The Return of the Jealous Sisters
News of her marriage soon reached her elder sisters, who had thought her dead. Their jealousy rekindled like dry straw catching fire. “If she has risen to royalty,” the eldest hissed, “then we shall bring her down once more.”
They schemed to destroy her happiness. Disguising their malice behind false smiles, they sent her gifts, fine clothes and ornaments, but among them hid poisoned trinkets and tainted perfumes.
The unsuspecting princess accepted the gifts with gratitude. But when she wore the poisoned necklace, she fell lifeless, her light extinguished. The palace was thrown into mourning, and the prince, heartbroken, placed her in a glass coffin surrounded by flowers.
Days passed into weeks, and sorrow hung over the kingdom. Yet one morning, a gentle breeze swept through the royal garden, carrying the scent of the same wildflowers that had once surrounded her forest cottage. The star upon her brow flickered faintly, and the crescent on her chest began to glow once more. Slowly, the princess awoke, revived by the purity of her spirit and the justice of fate.
When the news spread, the prince rejoiced and vowed never to let deceit near her again. The two jealous sisters were brought before the court, where their crimes were revealed. Overcome with shame and fear, they fled and were never seen again.
The Moral
The Jealous Sisters teaches that envy leads only to ruin, while goodness and truth endure beyond deceit. The youngest sister’s beauty was not merely physical, it was the reflection of her inner purity, which no betrayal could destroy.
Knowledge Check
1. Who are the main characters in “The Jealous Sisters”?
The three sisters, two envious elders and one virtuous younger sister, form the core of the story.
2. What symbolic features make the youngest sister unique?
She bears a shining star on her forehead and a crescent moon on her chest, symbols of divine grace and destiny.
3. How do the older sisters betray the youngest?
They first abandon her in the forest, then later send poisoned gifts to end her life.
4. How does the youngest sister come to meet the prince?
After being abandoned, she finds refuge in a forest cottage where the prince discovers her during a hunt.
5. What moral lesson does the tale convey?
It warns against jealousy and teaches that inner purity and goodness ultimately triumph over malice.
6. What is the cultural origin of this story?
The tale originates from Albania and appears in Jean Dozon’s Contes Albanais (1881), translated by Robert Elsie.
Source: Adapted from the Albanian folktale “Djali dhe vajza me yll në ball dhe hënëz në kraharuar” in Contes Albanais (1881), collected by Jean Dozon.
Cultural Origin: Albania (Albanian folklore)
