The Red Shoes
1845 
Denmark Story
Once upon a time, there was a little girl named Karen who was very poor. She had no shoes and walked barefoot, even in winter. A kind old shoemaker's wife felt sorry for her and made her a pair of red shoes from old scraps of cloth. Karen wore them proudly.
When Karen's mother passed away, a rich old lady took the girl in and cared for her. The old lady bought Karen beautiful new clothes and threw away the old red cloth shoes. But Karen never forgot them.
One day, when Karen was to be confirmed at church, she needed new shoes. At the shoe shop, she saw the most beautiful pair of red leather shoes she had ever seen. They practically glowed! The old lady, whose eyesight was poor, didn't realize they were red and bought them for Karen.
Karen wore the red shoes to church, but instead of paying attention to the service, all she could think about were her beautiful shoes. Everyone stared, and Karen felt proud, but she was not thinking the right thoughts for church.
An old soldier with a red beard saw her and said, "What pretty dancing shoes! They'll stay on tight when you dance!" And from that moment, Karen felt the shoes begin to move on their own. They weren't just pretty shoes—they were enchanted!
Soon Karen could not stop dancing. The red shoes danced her through the streets, through fields, over hills, and into forests. She danced day and night, unable to rest, eat, or sleep. The shoes would not come off, no matter how hard she tried.
After many days of dancing, Karen was exhausted and deeply sorry for her vanity. She understood that she had cared more about how she looked than about what truly mattered. With all her heart, she asked for help and forgiveness.
A kind angel heard her prayers. The enchantment was finally broken, and Karen was free from the red shoes. She learned that true beauty comes from having a good and humble heart, not from fine clothes or fancy shoes. From that day on, Karen lived a simple, grateful life, always helping others and never forgetting the lesson of the red shoes.
History and Meaning
"The Red Shoes" was written by Hans Christian Andersen and first published in 1845. It is one of his more somber tales, based partly on a childhood memory of his father making a pair of red shoes for a wealthy girl.
The story is a cautionary tale about vanity and the importance of humility. Karen's obsession with the beautiful red shoes blinds her to more important things, like showing respect and caring for others. The unstoppable dancing represents how our obsessions can take control of our lives.
The tale reflects Danish Lutheran values of Andersen's time, emphasizing modesty and spiritual devotion over material possessions. Modern readers often interpret the story as a warning against letting appearance and fashion become more important than character.
"The Red Shoes" has inspired numerous adaptations, including the famous 1948 British film by Powell and Pressburger about a ballerina, and Kate Bush's song of the same name. The image of the enchanted red shoes continues to captivate audiences today.