Prince Zerbino by Ludwig Tieck. Short summary

5 seconds

The fairy tale «The Puss in Boots» is played out. The Jester, the Cat, and poor Dorio and his daughter Lila confront the witty courtiers, King Gottlieb and Prince Zerbino, who have fallen into infancy.

1 minute

At the palace, the courtiers believe that Prince Zerbino has lost his mind. The doctor has instructed him to communicate with reasonable people. But science cannot give rest to the soul. The Jester (aka the Counselor) confuses the Prince with his maxims. The summoned foreign doctor forbids the prince to speak to reasonable men.

The courtiers exchange witticisms, passing off flat jokes as deep thoughts. Hanswurst the cat sees this and laughs at them. Life at the palace resembles a sophistical camarilla. King Gottlieb himself has fallen as a child and is playing with tin soldiers.

A very different world opens up in Dorio’s cabin in the woods. The poor man loves his daughter Lila, who longs for Cleon. The girl is guided by love, and therefore there is more wisdom in her speeches than in the maxims of the courtiers.

Zerbino decides to travel; he meets the Miller and the Blacksmith. But penetrating the mysteries of mechanisms does not give him a picture of life. Jeremiah communicates with Satan, his hypocrisy does not heal Cerbino.