# The External Soul in Indian Fairy Tales

> Theme guide for Indian Fairy Tales by Joseph Jacobs.

A prominent motif in 'Punchkin' and its parallels, where a villain's life force is hidden in a series of nested objects (e.g., a box, a fish, a tree), representing the idea of invulnerability and the quest to defeat evil by finding its hidden weakness.

## Where it surfaces

- [Punchkin](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/indian_fairy_tales_se/chapters/punchkin): Punchkin's life is hidden in a parrot; destroying the parrot kills him.
- [Notes and References](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/indian_fairy_tales_se/chapters/notes-and-references): The chapter discusses the 'external soul' or 'Life Index' incident, found in both Norse tales and Indian tales like 'Punchkin', and its widespread occurrence among savage or semi-savage tribes as noted by Frazer.
- [IV: Punchkin](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/indian_fairy_tales_se/chapters/iv-punchkin): The central theme of the chapter, where Punchkin's life is hidden in a series of nested objects, illustrating the concept of an external soul or 'life-index'.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/indian_fairy_tales_se/themes/the_external_soul
- Themes index: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/indian_fairy_tales_se/themes