The starw, the coal and the bean are the three characters from one of Grimm's fairy tales. They all escaped from being burned down or cooked alive. The rest of the story goes as below:
“I think,” answered the bean, “that as we have so fortunately escaped death, we should keep together like good companions, and lest a new mischance should overtake us here, we should go away together, and repair to a foreign country.”
The proposition pleased the two others, and they set out on their way in company. Soon, however, they came to a little brook, and as there was no bridge or foot-plank, they did not know how they were to get over it. The straw hit on a good idea, and said: 'I will lay myself straight across, and then you can walk over on me as on a bridge.' The straw therefore stretched itself from one bank to the other, and the coal, who was of an impetuous disposition, tripped quite boldly on to the newly-built bridge. But when she had reached the middle, and heard the water rushing beneath her, she was after all, afraid, and stood still, and ventured no farther. The straw, however, began to burn, broke in two pieces, and fell into the stream. The coal slipped after her, hissed when she got into the water, and breathed her last.
The bean, who had prudently stayed behind on the shore, could not but laugh at the event, was unable to stop, and laughed so heartily that she burst. It would have been all over with her, likewise, if, by good fortune, a tailor who was travelling in search of work, had not sat down to rest by the brook. As he had a compassionate heart he pulled out his needle and thread, and sewed her together. The bean thanked him most prettily, but as the tailor used black thread, all beans since then have a black seam."
- translated by Margaret Raine Hunt
"The tale teaches the importance of unity and the consequences of individual actions. Despite their differences, the characters initially band together for safety. However, their lack of cooperation and consideration for one another ultimately lead to their downfall, with only the bean surviving due to outside assistance."
"The tale teaches the importance of unity and the consequences of individual actions. Despite their differences, the characters initially band together for safety. However, their lack of cooperation and consideration for one another ultimately lead to their downfall, with only the bean surviving due to outside assistance."
So what to do and what should have been done? Maybe the coal sould take a dip in the brook to cool herself down first, and they should find a wooden board to make a boat? Feel free to use your imagination. All would be good as long as they could all survive and are safer together, wouldn't it?
Wish you all a Happy Friday!
