Looking for an adventure that’s reminiscent of a fairy tale? Immerse yourself in The Blue Bird of Happiness by S.M. Shigemitsu–a retelling of Maurice Maeterlinck’s play “The Blue Bird,” featuring the brother and sister heroes Tyltyl and Mytyl.
In case you’re unfamiliar with Maeterlinck’s play, young Tyltyl and Mytyl search for the Blue Bird of Happiness in a fantastical world. The bird is to be given to the fairy Bérylune, who wants to give it to her sick little girl. The siblings are guided by a lady called Light, and they visit places that represent the delights of everyday life. They enter the Land of Memories, meet caricatures of Happinesses and Joys, and encounter children who are not yet born. After their journey, the siblings see happiness even in their mundane surroundings. Also, Tyltyl gives his pet bird, which is blue enough, to the fairy’s little girl, sharing joy, love, and healing.
Shigemitsu keeps much of the basic plot, but unlike Maeterlinck’s tale, her book starts way before the siblings’ adventure. It begins with the origin story of Light and Bérylune, and Bérylune is the fairy and the little girl rolled into one character. She starts out as a self-centered and temperamental princess, and because of it, a fairy king curses her to be an old crone until she finds the Blue Bird. In her new form, she meets Tyltyl and Mytyl, the children of a woodcarving family, and she learns to live the simple peasant life. It allows her to repent of her ways and bond with the young siblings, but unless she finds the Blue Bird, she will die. I think this adds emotional depth to the story, and it makes me hope that Bérylune is granted mercy. And Light? Light is a guy in this version, and he’s Bérylune’s brother. He emanates the essence of Jesus, as he’s faithful and loving towards the princess, even when she’s most volatile, and he’s patient with Tyltyl and Mytyl as he guides them in finding the Blue Bird.
There are other differences between the play and the book. For instance, in the play, Tyltyl and Mytyl’s visit to the Land of Memories and their trek through the Cemetery are separate events. But in Shigemitsu’s version, they’re essentially wrapped into one event. This makes sense because in both versions, the two characters see their deceased grandparents in the Land of Memories, which would complement the Cemetery scenes.
Another difference is with Tylette, Mytyl’s beloved cat. She joins her human owners on their journey, but she thinks they’re dangerous to trees and animals, so she betrays them to vindictive talking trees and critters. While Tylette stays bad in the play, in the book, Light warns her that she will be homeless unless she mends her ways. The cat then stands up for the humans, though I feel at this point she’s more shaken by Light’s warning than regretful of hurting her owners. But Mytyl still loves and forgives Tylette, and while Tylette initially resists her love, she surrenders, settling back into a right relationship with her mistress.
The Blue Bird of Happiness is a wonderful read for the holiday season, as it takes place at Christmastime, but it can be read at any time of year. Since it has less violence than the play, it’s family-friendly for anyone between the ages of eight and one hundred, and I feel it’s more reminiscent of the Christian faith than Maeterlinck’s version. Like all fairy tales, it has a happy ending involving a broken curse, and we see Tyltyl and Mytyl having a joyful holiday. Pick up the book, and you’ll see what I mean.
A fairy king’s curse.
A hat with a magic jewel.
A quest for an elusive bird of happiness.
Princess Jana is ill, and her brother, Prince Lander, disappears. A few years later, Tyltyl encounters an old fairy who tells him of a quest: unless the princess has the Blue Bird of Happiness, she will die on Christmas Day. With a magic diamond, Tyltyl, his sister Mytyl, their dog, cat, and a guide, the five travel to the fairy realm to find the Blue Bird of Happiness. But they had to hurry, for they began their journey on Christmas Eve.
