The Emperor's New Clothes

Andersen's manuscript was at the printer’s when he suddenly changed the original climax of the tale from the emperor’s subjects admiring his invisible clothes to that of the child's cry.Wullschlager, p. 177  Andersen’s decision to change the ending may have occurred after he read the manuscript tale to a child,Bredsdorff, p. 313 or had its source in a childhood incident similar to that in the tale.  In 1872, he recalled standing in a crowd with his mother waiting to see King Frederick VI.  When the king made his appearance, Andersen cried out, "Oh, he’s nothing but a human being!"  His mother tried to silence him by crying, "Have you gone mad, child?". Whatever the reason, Andersen thought the change would prove more satirical.Frank, p. 110

The story tells of an Emperor who cares for nothing but new clothes. He hires two swindlers who promise him the finest suit of clothes. It will be made from a fabric invisible to anyone who is unfit for his position or "hopelessly stupid". The Emperor's ministers cannot see the clothing, but pretend that they can for fear of appearing unfit for their positions. The Emperor does the same. Finally the swindlers report that the suit is finished. They pretend to dress Emperor. He marches in procession before his subjects. The townsfolk play along with the pretense. Then a child in the crowd cries out that the Emperor is wearing nothing at all. The cry is taken up by others. The Emperor cringes, but holds his head high and continues the procession.

Notes

References

 Frank, Diane Crone (Ed. and transl.); Frank, Jeffrey (Ed. and transl.) (2005). The Stories of Hans Christian Andersen: A New Translation from the Danish. Durham and London: Duke University Press. .


Other websites

 "Keiserens nye Klæder" . Original Danish text
 "Keiserens nye Klæder" . Manuscript from the Odense City Museum
 "The Emperor's New Clothes". English translation by Jean Hersholt
  "The Emperor's New Clothes". Audio rendition by Sir Michael Redgrave

Category:Fairy tales
Category:Works by Hans Christian Andersen