The Baker and his Wife

[andyweintraub]

My new membership on this forum is prompted by a specific question.


In Stephen Sondheim's musical INTO THE WOODS, he uses a fairy tale involving a baker and his wife who can't have children and a witch who sends them on a quest to find objects to feed to a cow to make a potion which she will drink to become beautiful again. In exchange for the objects, she will insure their fertility.

Does anyone know what story this plot comes from?

[Darlin]

Hi, andyweintraub. I can't help you with your question but welcome. :wave:

[samercury]

Hi andy,

Welcome :wave:
...I don't remember which fairytale this is from....:confused:...hope to :D
See you around

[Virgil]

My new membership on this forum is prompted by a specific question.


In Stephen Sondheim's musical INTO THE WOODS, he uses a fairy tale involving a baker and his wife who can't have children and a witch who sends them on a quest to find objects to feed to a cow to make a potion which she will drink to become beautiful again. In exchange for the objects, she will insure their fertility.

Does anyone know what story this plot comes from?

I can't quite place the fairy tale. Old Testament however has several women who are passed child bearing age, seek fertility, and by the Grace of God bear children. There may be a connection. If you find out the fairy let us know.

[Aurora Ariel]

Hi andy,
Welcome to the forum.I hope you have a great time.:)

[RubySilver]

My new membership on this forum is prompted by a specific question.


In Stephen Sondheim's musical INTO THE WOODS, he uses a fairy tale involving a baker and his wife who can't have children and a witch who sends them on a quest to find objects to feed to a cow to make a potion which she will drink to become beautiful again. In exchange for the objects, she will insure their fertility.

Does anyone know what story this plot comes from?

So, I have been wanting the answer to this question for the longest time. I believe it may be from Thumblinia, (or however you spell it.)

As a lot of us know, Thumblinia is about a tale that the woman wants a child very badly. She is so desperate, that she turns to a fairy, or some cases say a wich, for help. The wich gives her a seed and tells her the steps on how to take care of it in order to have the child.

If this is the case, then that could also bring the connection with the tale of Rapunzel. The wich has a garden that the father steals from to get some food for his wife. In the original tale, he steals a certain type of beat or turnip that had a name similar to Rapunzel. Anyways, perhaps the author of this musical brought that into play. The mother in Thumblinia wanted a child, was given a seed and the wich had a garden.

This is all a whole bunch of random guessing of course. I hope it helped!

[Calidore]

He may have found his answer in the nine years since he posted, but just in case (and for everyone else's benefit): The baker and his wife were original characters created for the play.