The Juniper Tree also The Almond Tree (Low German: Von dem Machandelboom) is a German fairytale by the Brothers Grimm. The story contains themes of child abuse, murder, cannibalism and biblical symbolism and is one of the Brothers Grimm's darker and more mature fairy tales.
Story
A wealthy and pious couple pray every day for God to grant them a child. One winter, under the juniper tree in the courtyard, the wife peels an apple. She cuts her finger and drops of blood fall onto the snow. This leads her to wish for a child to be as white as snow and as red as blood. Six months later, the wife becomes gravely ill from eating juniper berries and asks her husband to bury her beneath the juniper tree if she dies. A month later, she gives birth to a baby boy as white as snow and as red as blood. She dies of happiness. Keeping his promise, the husband buries her beneath the juniper tree. He eventually marries again and he and his new wife have a daughter named Marlinchen.
The new wife loves Marlinchen but despises her stepson. She abuses him every day, claiming that she wishes Marlinchen to inherit her father's wealth instead of her stepson. One afternoon after school, the stepmother plans to lure her stepson into an empty room containing a chest of apples. Marlinchen sees the chest and asks for an apple, which the stepmother gracefully offers. However, when the boy enters the room and reaches down the chest for an apple, the stepmother slams the lid onto his neck, decapitating him. The stepmother binds his head with the rest of his body with a bandage and props his body onto a chair outside, with an apple on his lap. Marlinchen, unaware of the situation, asks her stepbrother for an apple. Hearing no response, she is forced by her mother to box him in the ear, causing his head to roll onto the ground. Marlinchen profusely cries throughout the day whilst the stepmother dismembers the stepson's body and cooks him into a "blood-soup" for dinner. She later deceives her husband by telling him that his son stayed at the mother's great uncle's house. The husband unwittingly eats the "blood-soup" during dinner and proclaims it to be delicious. Marlinchen gathers the bones from the dinner and buries them beneath the juniper tree with a handkerchief.
Suddenly, a mist emerges from the juniper tree and a beautiful bird flies out. The bird visits the local townspeople and sings about its brutal murder at the hands of its stepmother. Captivated by its lullaby, a goldsmith, a shoemaker and a miller offer the bird a gold chain, a pair of red shoes and a millstone in return for the bird singing its song again. The bird returns home to give the gold chain to the husband while giving Marlinchen the red shoes. Meanwhile, the stepmother complains about the "raging fires within her arteries", revealed to be the real cause of her anger and hatred towards her stepson. She goes outside for relief but the bird drops the millstone onto her head, killing her instantly. Surrounded by smoke and flames, the son, revealed to be the bird, emerges and reunites with his family. They celebrate and head inside for lunch, and live happily ever after.
Main Characters
The Boy (Son): The main character, who is the son of the first wife. He is innocent and kind-hearted but tragically murdered by his stepmother. After his death, he is transformed into a bird, seeking justice for his untimely demise.
The Stepmother: A cruel and jealous woman who marries the boy's father. Driven by envy, she kills the boy and tries to hide her crime by feeding his remains to her unsuspecting husband. Her actions ultimately lead to her downfall.
The Father: A passive character who remains unaware of his wife's evil deeds. He is grief-stricken after losing his son but unknowingly eats the meal made from his remains. His sorrow is lifted only when justice is served.
Marlinchen (The Sister): The boy's half-sister and daughter of the stepmother. She is innocent and loving, unaware of her mother's plans. She mourns her brother's death and ultimately helps him get justice by gathering the juniper berries that lead to the stepmother's demise.
The Bird (Boy's Spirit): After his death, the boy's spirit transforms into a bird. The bird sings a haunting song that reveals the truth about his murder and brings justice to the wicked stepmother.