|
|
|
|
|
Fat-frumos(fat: son, infant; frumos: beautiful) Fat-Frumos is a knight hero in Romanian folklore's mythology. He possesses such essential attributes as courage, purity, justness, physical and spiritual strength, cleverness, passion, and unshakable love. Fat Frumos also displays some minimal abilities in performing miracles, as well as total commitment to the word given and to the monarch he serves. Fat Frumos has to go through tests and obstacles that surmount ordinary man's power. With dignity, he always brings these to a positive resolution. He fights demonic monsters and malevolent characters (zmeu, balaur, Muma Padurii, etc.). He travels in both "this land" and "the other land" (tarimul celalalt) with Calul Nazdravan (The Marvellous Horse), his inseparable vehicle and counsellor. In his journeys, Fat Frumos often has to overcome a major dilemma related to the correct route he is to follow, and is bound to decide between two equally nonsensical choices. Asked about the right way, an old woman gives Fat Frumos an obscure answer: "If you turn right, you will be in sorrow; if you turn left, you will be in sorrow as well." According to Victor Kernbach, this lose-lose situation evokes the historical condition of the Romanian people whose homeland has been constantly crossed and attacked by foreign powers, as the native population was always forced to decide between two equally unfortunate choices: ally with your enemies or fight them. Reference KERNBACH, Victor (1989). Dictionar de mitologie generala. Editura Stiintifica si Enciclopedica, Bucuresti, pp. 183-184.
|
 |
|
| Copyright 2005-2009 OnPedia.com. All Rights Reserved |
|
|