Egostilskin

Here’s a retelling of a folktale you probably know.

You’re just a regular miller’s daughter, but because your parents bragged about you to the king, claiming you can do special things that you can’t actually do, you’re in a pickle.

You cheat a little, to save your life – you accept help from a little character who you kind of already know you shouldn’t make deals with.

This cheating makes it seem like you’re someone you’re not – someone who can turn straw into gold. So the king takes notice of you, because he’s only after the shiny stuff. He’s not in love with you.

Just when you think you’re in the clear (married to the king, living in a palace), the little guy you made a deal with comes back, asking for your baby. Take the king, you say, take the whole palace, I don’t care, just let me keep this baby, I love her so much, she’s the only thing that matters to me.

Nope, says the little guy. Not unless you can say my name.

Thank goodness you know it. “Your name is Ego,” you say.

So he has to leave you alone.

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My invitation to you: what’s the folktale of your ego?

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Thumbnail image lovingly appropriated from Paul O. Zelinsky’s illustrated retelling of the Grimm Brothers’ retelling of Rumpelstilskin.