Indian Fairy Tales · Chapter
How the Wicked Sons Were Duped explained
A wealthy old man divides his property among his sons while still alive, only to suffer their neglect and cruelty once they have their inheritance.
What happens
A wealthy old man divides his property among his sons while still alive, only to suffer their neglect and cruelty once they have their inheritance. A friend advises him to pretend that a debt has been repaid with bags of stones and gravel, leading the sons to believe there is more wealth. The sons become attentive and kind until the father's death, when they discover the bags contain only stones.
Free preview opens on this chapter — companions, themes, and character notes appear beside the text.
Narrative arc
Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Climax.
- Setup
- Breaking point
- Aftermath
- Closing
The emotional and psychological peak occurs when the sons, believing their father now possesses hidden wealth,…
Full beat labels and climax notes unlock in the reader.
Follow the arc while readingThemes in this chapter
- Gratitude and Ingratitude
The sons show ingratitude after receiving their inheritance, contrasting with their earlier feigned affection.
- Greed and Its Consequences
The sons' greed for more wealth leads them to be duped by the bags of stones.
Characters to notice
- Sthuladatta
The wealthy old man who is mistreated by his sons after dividing his property.
- Bidpai
The friend who devises the plan to trick the sons into being kind.
Key passages
“A very wealthy old man, imagining that he was on the point of death, sent for his sons and divided his property among them.”
A rich old man, believing he was about to die, called his sons and gave them their inheritance.
Opening action setting up the plot.
“Wretched, selfish ingrates! Previously they vied with one another in trying to please their father, hoping thus to receive more money, but now they had received their patrimony, they cared not how soon he left them.”
The ungrateful sons had competed to please their father for money, but after getting it, they wanted him gone.
Highlights the sons' selfishness and ingratitude.
