# Greed and Its Downfall in Household Tales

> Theme guide for Household Tales by Jacob Grimm.

Greed leads to ruin, as in the tale of the goldsmith who steals the tailor's three wishes and ends up with humps, or the fisherman's wife whose insatiable curiosity and greed cause the loss of their magical castle.

## Where it surfaces

- [Cat and Mouse in Partnership](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/household_tales_se/chapters/cat-and-mouse-in-partnership): The cat's greed for the fat drives her to lie and consume everything, ultimately destroying the partnership and the mouse.
- [The Good Bargain](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/household_tales_se/chapters/the-good-bargain): The Jew's greed leads him to betray the peasant, but he is ultimately punished when the King sees through his deception.
- [Hänsel and Grethel](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/household_tales_se/chapters/h-nsel-and-grethel): The witch's greed for eating children leads to her own death in the oven, while the children's acquisition of jewels symbolizes reward.
- [The Fisherman and His Wife](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/household_tales_se/chapters/the-fisherman-and-his-wife): The wife's insatiable desire for more power leads to the loss of all granted wishes.
- [The Mouse, the Bird, and the Sausage](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/household_tales_se/chapters/the-mouse-the-bird-and-the-sausage): The bird's desire for a better situation, despite being well off, results in the destruction of the entire household.
- [Mother Holle](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/household_tales_se/chapters/mother-holle): The mother's and stepsister's greed for gold leads the lazy daughter to attempt to deceive Mother Holle, resulting in her permanent disfigurement with pitch.
- [The Devil with the Three Golden Hairs](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/household_tales_se/chapters/the-devil-with-the-three-golden-hairs): The king's greed for gold drives him to seek the ferryman's treasure, resulting in his perpetual servitude.
- [The Wishing-Table, the Gold-Ass, and the Cudgel in the Sack](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/household_tales_se/chapters/the-wishing-table-the-gold-ass-and-the-cudgel-in-the-sack): The innkeeper's greed leads him to steal the magical objects, but he is ultimately punished when the cudgel thrashes him.
- [Thumbling](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/household_tales_se/chapters/thumbling): The two strangers' greed leads them to buy Thumbling, but they lose both him and their money when he escapes. Similarly, the wolf's gluttony results in his death.
- [Godfather Death](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/household_tales_se/chapters/godfather-death): The physician's desire for wealth, kingship, and the princess drives him to break his promise, resulting in his demise.
- [Thumbling as Journeyman](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/household_tales_se/chapters/thumbling-as-journeyman): The robbers' greed for the king's treasure is thwarted by Thumbling's cleverness, and the maids' greed for revenge leads to their own failure.
- [The Knapsack, the Hat, and the Horn](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/household_tales_se/chapters/the-knapsack-the-hat-and-the-horn): The two older brothers settle for silver and gold, while the youngest's restraint leads to greater power.
- [Rumpelstiltskin](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/household_tales_se/chapters/rumpelstiltskin): The King's greed for gold drives the plot, and the little man's greed for the child leads to his own destruction.
- [The Dog and the Sparrow](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/household_tales_se/chapters/the-dog-and-the-sparrow): The wagoner's greed and disregard for life (running over the dog, refusing to stop) result in the loss of his property and life.
- [Frederick and Catherine](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/household_tales_se/chapters/frederick-and-catherine): The pedlars' greed leads them to steal the gold, but they are frightened away and lose their booty.
- [The Little Peasant](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/household_tales_se/chapters/the-little-peasant): The peasants' greed for easy wealth leads them to kill their cows and ultimately drown themselves.
- [The Three Sons of Fortune](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/household_tales_se/chapters/the-three-sons-of-fortune): The king's fear and overreaction to the cat's mewing result in the loss of his palace, showing how greed for safety can lead to ruin.
- [How Six Men Got on in the World](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/household_tales_se/chapters/how-six-men-got-on-in-the-world): The King's greed leads him to attempt murder and ultimately lose his entire wealth to the six men.
- [The Wolf and the Fox](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/household_tales_se/chapters/the-wolf-and-the-fox): The wolf's insatiable greed leads him to overeat and become stuck in the cellar, resulting in his death.
- [Clever Grethel](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/household_tales_se/chapters/clever-grethel): Grethel's greed leads her to eat both fowls, but her cleverness prevents any downfall for herself, while the master and guest suffer loss and confusion.
- [The Death of the Little Hen](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/household_tales_se/chapters/the-death-of-the-little-hen): The hen's greed in keeping the kernel for herself results in her choking and the subsequent demise of all involved.
- [Brother Lustig](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/household_tales_se/chapters/brother-lustig): Brother Lustig's greed is evident when he nudges St. Peter to accept payment and later tries to revive a princess for reward, but his incompetence prevents success.
- [Gambling Hansel](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/household_tales_se/chapters/gambling-hansel): Hansel's greed for gambling and winning leads him to lose his house, abuse divine gifts, and ultimately be destroyed, his soul scattered among living gamblers.
- [Hans in Luck](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/household_tales_se/chapters/hans-in-luck): Hans's initial desire for a horse leads to a fall, and his subsequent trades show how each 'improvement' brings new troubles until he is finally freed from all burdens.
- [The Gold-Children](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/household_tales_se/chapters/the-gold-children): The wife's insatiable curiosity and desire to know the source of their wealth ultimately causes their downfall.
- [The Poor Man and the Rich Man](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/household_tales_se/chapters/the-poor-man-and-the-rich-man): The rich man's greed for more wishes results in the squandering of all three, leaving him with nothing but regret.
- [The Young Giant](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/household_tales_se/chapters/the-young-giant): The bailiff and the smith are both greedy, trying to exploit the young giant's strength for free labor, but they face consequences when he demands his agreed-upon blows.
- [The King of the Golden Mountain](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/household_tales_se/chapters/the-king-of-the-golden-mountain): The merchant's greed for wealth leads him to promise his son, and the son's impulsive wish for his wife and child brings misfortune.
- [Doctor Knowall](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/household_tales_se/chapters/doctor-knowall): The servants' greed leads them to steal, and their fear of exposure causes their downfall.
- [Sweet Porridge](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/household_tales_se/chapters/sweet-porridge): The mother's uncontrolled eating and inability to stop the pot result in a flood of porridge, illustrating the consequences of excess.
- [Wise Folks](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/household_tales_se/chapters/wise-folks): The woman's eagerness to send money to her husband in heaven and the son's desire to learn about heaven lead them to lose their wealth and horse to the cunning peasant.
- [Second Story](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/household_tales_se/chapters/second-story): The girl's taking of the crown leads to the snake's death and the loss of further treasures.
- [The Jew Among Thorns](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/household_tales_se/chapters/the-jew-among-thorns): The Jew's greed leads him to falsely accuse the servant, but his own crime is exposed, resulting in his execution.
- [The Flail from Heaven](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/household_tales_se/chapters/the-flail-from-heaven): The peasant's desire for more thalers leads to a precarious situation, though he ultimately escapes through resourcefulness.
- [The Bright Sun Brings It to Light](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/household_tales_se/chapters/the-bright-sun-brings-it-to-light): The tailor's greed leads him to kill for money, but he finds only eight farthings, and his crime eventually destroys him.
- [The Three Apprentices](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/household_tales_se/chapters/the-three-apprentices): The innkeeper's greed leads him to murder the merchant for his gold, but his crime is exposed and he is executed, showing the destructive consequences of avarice.
- [Donkey Cabbages](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/household_tales_se/chapters/donkey-cabbages): The witch's greed for the bird's heart and wishing-cloak drives her to manipulate the maiden, ultimately resulting in her own demise.
- [The Fox and the Horse](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/household_tales_se/chapters/the-fox-and-the-horse): The lion's greed for an easy meal leads him into a trap, and the master's initial greed in discarding the horse is reversed when he sees the lion.
- [Simeli Mountain](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/household_tales_se/chapters/simeli-mountain): The rich brother's greed leads him to attempt to take all the treasure, but his avarice causes him to forget the mountain's name, resulting in his death.
- [The Turnip](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/household_tales_se/chapters/the-turnip): The rich brother's greed for even greater wealth backfires, leaving him with only the turnip and a desire for revenge.
- [Snow-White and Rose-Red](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/household_tales_se/chapters/snow-white-and-rose-red): The dwarf's greed for treasure and his cruel nature lead to his demise at the bear's paw.
- [Lazy Harry](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/household_tales_se/chapters/lazy-harry): Harry's suspicion that Trina is eating the honey in private leads to their argument and the destruction of the honey pot.
- [Lean Lisa](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/household_tales_se/chapters/lean-lisa): Lean Lisa's obsessive desire for a cow and her refusal to share even a drop of milk leads to conflict and violence, showing how greed disrupts family harmony.
- [The Owl](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/household_tales_se/chapters/the-owl): The townspeople's fear and irrationality lead them to burn down a valuable barn and its contents, a costly and destructive solution.
- [The Moon](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/household_tales_se/chapters/the-moon): The four men's greed in taking the moon for themselves and later hoarding its quarters leads to the return of darkness and chaos.
- [The Little Folks’ Presents](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/household_tales_se/chapters/the-little-folks-presents): The goldsmith's greed drives him to return for more treasure, resulting in his gold turning to coal and his body being deformed.
- [The Poor Boy in the Grave](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/household_tales_se/chapters/the-poor-boy-in-the-grave): The farmer's greed and refusal to feed the boy properly lead to a chain of events that culminate in the boy's death and the farmer's own ruin.
- [The Peasant and the Devil](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/household_tales_se/chapters/the-peasant-and-the-devil): The Devil's greed for the fruits of the earth leads him to be outwitted by the peasant, who uses the Devil's own desire against him.
- [The Ear of Corn](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/household_tales_se/chapters/the-ear-of-corn): Human ingratitude and wastefulness in times of plenty provoke divine anger, resulting in the loss of abundance.
- [The Grave-Mound](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/household_tales_se/chapters/the-grave-mound): The rich farmer's greed is confronted by his conscience, and his soul is nearly lost to the Devil, illustrating the destructive consequences of avarice.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/household_tales_se/themes/greed_and_its_downfall
- Themes index: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/household_tales_se/themes