The Scarlet Flower

The Scarlet Flower
Nastenka in the Beast's palace (1952 film The Scarlet Flower)
Folk tale
Name	The Scarlet Flower
Also known as	The Little Red Flower
Data
Country	Russia
Published in	1858
Related	Beauty and the Beast

The Scarlet Flower (Russian: Аленький цветочек, Alenkiy tsvetochek), also known as The Little Scarlet Flower or The Little Red Flower, is a Russian folk tale written by Sergey Aksakov. It is an adaptation of traditional fairy tale Beauty and the Beast. In Russia, 'Beauty and the Beast story is known mostly via Aksakov's retelling.

In a letter to his son of November 23, 1856 Aksakov wrote: "I am writing a story which in my childhood I knew by heart". Aksakov had been told that story as a child. He recalled that he was ill and suffered from insomnia. Then a housekeeper named Pelagia, who was well known for telling great fairy tales, sat by the stove and began to tell him the story of Scarlet Flower. Aksakov added that he did not feel sleepy at all, on the contrary, couldn't fall asleep until the very end.The Scarlet Flower was first published in 1858. It was printed as an appendix in Aksakov's Childhood Years of Grandson Bagrov (Detskie gody Bagrova-vnuka) "not to interrupt the story of childhood".

Once upon a time there lived a wealthy merchant, who had three beautiful daughters. Once he decided to do business overseas. He called for the daughters and asked what gifts should he bring them. The eldest asked for a golden tiara adorned with precious gems that sparkled brightly, and the second wanted a crystal mirror which always showed the person's reflection as young and beautiful. The merchant knew these would be difficult to obtain, but within his means. The youngest, named Nastenka (a diminutive form of the given name Anastasia), asked for the most beautiful scarlet flower in the world, which she had seen in a dream. The merchant did not know where he could find such a flower, but promised not to disappoint.

Everything went well. The merchant bought all gifts, except for the scarlet flower. He saw many scarlet flowers, but not the most beautiful one. On the way home he was attacked by robbers, fled into the woods and became lost. When he awoke the next morning he saw a splendid palace "in flame, silver and gold". He walked inside, marveling at the splendor, but the palace was seemingly empty. Spread before him was a luxurious feast, and he sat down and ate. When he walked out to the garden he saw the most beautiful scarlet flower, and knew it was the one his daughter desired. Upon picking it, the terrible Beast of the Forest leapt out and confronted the merchant, asking him why he dared pick the scarlet flower, the one joy of the beast's life. The beast demanded that the merchant repay him and forfeit his life. The merchant begged for mercy and to be returned to his daughters. The beast allowed this on the one condition that within the next three days one of his daughters would willingly take her father's place and live with the beast, or the merchant's life would be forfeit. The beast gave the merchant a ring, and the girl that put it on the littlest finger of her right hand would be transported to the palace. Then the beast magically transported the merchant home, with all his wealth and treasures restored.