Summary of “The Wind Cap”

About the Author

Jane Hyatt Yolen (1939-) is an American author and editor of folklore, fantasy, science fiction, and children’s books. She has written over 280 books, the best known of which are The Holocaust Novella and The Devil’s Arithmetic. The present text is an edited version of her popular short story of the same name.

(50 words)

Introduction to the Story

The story revolves around Jon, a young farmer’s son with a strong desire to become a sailor. When he saves a fairy and receives a magical cap, his dreams come true, but the cap’s condition leads to unexpected consequences and moral dilemmas, highlighting the complex nature of fulfilling one’s desires.

(50 words)

Summary of the Story

The story is about a young farmer’s son named Jon who dreams of becoming a sailor but initially obeys his mother’s wishes to stay on the farm. One day, he saves a tiny green fairy, and as a reward, he receives a magical cap that can control the wind. Jon goes to sea, and the cap makes him a valuable sailor due to his ability to control the winds. However, the cap has a condition: it cannot be removed by human hands.

Over time, Jon longs to return to the land, but the captain refuses to let him ashore. In a dream-induced accident, Jon’s cap causes a storm, and the crew blames him. In a fit of anger, the captain throws Jon into the sea, and the cap comes off, ending the storm. Jon swims ashore and returns home. He later decides to leave the cap for the fairy and sets off to sea again, experiencing a continuous cycle of desire and sacrifice.

(150 words)

Theme of the Story

The story explores themes of desire, sacrifice, and consequences. It delves into the tension between pursuing personal dreams and fulfilling familial responsibilities. It also highlights the cyclic nature of longing and the moral choices individuals make when their desires have unexpected repercussions.

(40 words)