Contents
What is the tale of the priest and his worker Balda: what does it teach, analysis, morality and meaning
The perception of books differs at different ages. Children are more interested in bright images, funny incidents, fairy tale events. Adults are interested in knowing for whom it was written and what it is about. “The Tale of the Priest and His Worker Balda” by the example of the main characters shows that the price of deception and greed is always high.
A well-known folklore plot is used in the fairy tale: a sharp, hardworking person from the people taught a greedy church minister a lesson. It doesn’t really matter what class the characters belong to. The work ridicules and maintains universal human properties. In the first edition, the essay was called “The Tale of the Merchant Kuzma Ostolop and his worker Balda”. Due to the fact that the priest became a merchant, the meaning has not changed.
For children, the tale of the priest and the worker is a fun and instructive reading
The heroes meet at the bazaar. Father could not find himself either a groom or a carpenter. Everyone knew that he paid little, and refused to work on such conditions. And then a miracle happened: there was a simpleton who did not want money. He only wants cheap food and permission to hit his employer three times on the forehead. The offer seemed profitable. In addition, if the employee does not cope, it will be possible to kick him out with a clear conscience and avoid clicks.
The priest is out of luck, Balda does everything he is asked to do. There is nothing to blame him for. The date of reckoning is approaching. The priest does not want to substitute his forehead. The wife advises to give the employee an impossible task: to take the debt from the devils. Anyone would be at a loss, but Baldu will be successful in this matter too. He returns with a whole sack of rent. The priest has to pay in full.
What the negative hero’s behavior teaches
It is strange that a priest expects money from evil spirits. A spiritual father could sanctify the sea and drive out demons. It seems that he came up with a trick: he allowed the evil spirits to stay and set a price for it. The demons are not paying, but they are not going to leave either. They know that this church minister will endlessly hope to receive income from them.
Not being greedy is what the fairy tale teaches
The “free” employee cost the employer dearly. It’s all the fault of the quality of the negative hero:
- Overconfidence. It is foolish to spare money and sacrifice health, but a person is not to blame for being deprived of the mind. It’s really stupid to think you’re smarter than the person you’re dealing with. Many victims of scammers fall into this trap.
- Greed. Stinginess is the flip side of frugality. The priest wanted to save parish money – that’s good. It was bad to do it at someone else’s expense. He met a man whose name means “club”, “fool”, and decided to cash in on a simpleton.
- Bad faith. I had to admit my mistake and honestly keep my promise. Instead, the priest began to think about how he could avoid responsibility. I would not dodge and dodge – I got off with comic clicks. But he wanted to cheat, and was punished for it.
All this is confirmed by a short moral at the end of the tale: “You, priest, would not be chasing after cheapness.”
A positive example for children and morality
It is joyful to look at a dexterous and skillful worker. The priest’s family is pleased with him. Balda succeeds in everything, because he is endowed with positive features:
- Hard work. Balda is always busy with business. He is not afraid of any work: he plows, heats the stove, prepares food.
- Courage. The hero is not even afraid of devils. The demons are to blame, they did not pay the rent. Balda is confident that he is right. He speaks fearlessly with them, and they, seeing the strength of his character, will obey.
- Decency. The hero promised to work properly and kept his word. During the year he does not bargain, does not ask for a raise, does not complain. He fulfills his duties honestly, and also manages to help the priest with the baby.
- Savvy. Resourcefulness is not an innate quality. You can develop it in yourself if you are not lazy. Balda needs to take money from the devils. It is unlikely that he had to deal with such a task before. The hero had to work hard to figure out how to solve it.
Balda does everything correctly and honestly. He is not burdened with regret for his actions. Therefore, the worker, unlike the priest, is cheerful. He is always in a great mood.
In the book, responsibility and dishonesty, intelligence and stupidity, honesty and greed collide with each other. These properties are embodied in the personalities of the characters. One of them teaches readers how not to act, the other serves as an example of correct behavior.