Blue Bird (Chinese-English Contrast)

Author: (Belgian) Maurice Maeterlinck, (Belgian) Germaine de Rodenbach adapted, Translated by Wang Linzhi
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-07-01
Features: In ancient times, the children of a woodcutter—Till and Mytyl—dreamed of a fairy named Berylune before Christmas. She entrusted them with the task of finding a Blue Bird to heal her seriously ill daughter, as only this divine bird could cure her. The fairy said, "My little daughter will only find happiness when she is cured." So, accompanied by cats, dogs, and various things (sugar, bread, water, fire), they entered another world and sought the Blue Bird under the guidance of the Light God. They endured countless hardships in the Land of Memory, the Palace of the Night, the Cemetery, and the Kingdom of the Future, as well as in the temple of the Light God, but the Blue Bird was always lost and found again, finally remaining elusive. They had no choice but to return home. Upon waking the next morning, their neighbor, Mrs. Berling, came to collect Christmas gifts for her daughter. Till reluctantly gave her his beloved dove. To his surprise, the dove turned blue at that moment, becoming a "Blue Bird." The neighbor's daughter was also cured. The Blue Bird was originally a fairy play with the same title written by the Belgian author and founder of Symbolist drama, Maurice Maeterlinck. Later, his wife, Germaine de Rodenbach, revised and adapted it into this prose fairy tale for children's reading. The theme of this fairy tale, as stated in the book, is: "We draw near to happiness by giving happiness to others." The Light God showed the protagonists a "path to happiness through kindness, compassion, and generosity." The author said, "Every one of us seeks happiness, yet it is not so elusive. If we often harbor selfless and good intentions, happiness is within reach." This fairy tale employs the themes and techniques of folk stories, rich in poetry, with a beautiful and enchanting story. In 1911, Maeterlinck won the Nobel Prize in Literature for this humanitarian masterpiece.