Three Brothers, Three Endings

The Tales of Beedle the Bard

This flow contrasts the brothers’ different responses to death and tracks the consequences of their chosen gifts.

increasing

Bearing strength in each event

decreasing

A Bridge at Twilight A Bridge at Twilight from "The Tales of Beedle the Bard". A Bridge at Twilight A perilous crossing The Three Brothers encounter a river too dangerous to cross normally.

A Bridge at Twilight from "The Tales of Beedle the Bard". A Bridge at Twilight A perilous crossing The Three Brothers encounter a river too dangerous to cross normally.

A Bridge at Twilight A perilous crossing The Three Brothers encounter a river too dangerous to cross normally. Death interrupted They use magic to make a bridge, escaping the river’s expected victims. Their cleverness provokes Death’s anger and sets the encounter in motion.

The Eldest Seeks Supremacy The Eldest Seeks Supremacy from "The Tales of Beedle the Bard". The Eldest Seeks Supremacy A weapon requested The eldest brother asks Death for a wand that will win every duel.

The Eldest Seeks Supremacy from "The Tales of Beedle the Bard". The Eldest Seeks Supremacy A weapon requested The eldest brother asks Death for a wand that will win every duel.

The Eldest Seeks Supremacy A weapon requested The eldest brother asks Death for a wand that will win every duel. Power invites danger He kills an enemy and boasts openly of his weapon. A thief murders him in his sleep and takes the wand.

The Second Calls the Dead The Second Calls the Dead from "The Tales of Beedle the Bard". The Second Calls the Dead Grief given an object The second brother uses his stone to summon the woman he had hoped to marry.

The Second Calls the Dead from "The Tales of Beedle the Bard". The Second Calls the Dead Grief given an object The second brother uses his stone to summon the woman he had hoped to marry.

The Second Calls the Dead Grief given an object The second brother uses his stone to summon the woman he had hoped to marry. Presence without reunion She remains cold and separated from life. His hopeless longing ends in suicide, not restored love.

The Youngest Evades Pursuit The Youngest Evades Pursuit from "The Tales of Beedle the Bard". The Youngest Evades Pursuit A modest request The youngest asks for a means to leave without being followed and receives Death’s Cloak.

The Youngest Evades Pursuit from "The Tales of Beedle the Bard". The Youngest Evades Pursuit A modest request The youngest asks for a means to leave without being followed and receives Death’s Cloak.

The Youngest Evades Pursuit A modest request The youngest asks for a means to leave without being followed and receives Death’s Cloak. Survival through restraint Death searches for him but cannot find him. Unlike his brothers, he avoids turning a gift into a declaration of mastery.

An Old Friend’s Arrival An Old Friend’s Arrival from "The Tales of Beedle the Bard". An Old Friend’s Arrival The end accepted The youngest removes the Cloak when he has lived a long life and greets Death as an old friend.

An Old Friend’s Arrival from "The Tales of Beedle the Bard". An Old Friend’s Arrival The end accepted The youngest removes the Cloak when he has lived a long life and greets Death as an old friend.

An Old Friend’s Arrival The end accepted The youngest removes the Cloak when he has lived a long life and greets Death as an old friend. A gift passed onward He gives the Cloak to his son before departing with Death. The ending presents mortality accepted, not conquered.

At twilight, on the brothers’ journey

A week or more after the bridge encounter

After the second brother reaches his home

Across the youngest brother’s long life

At the youngest brother’s old age