Emperor's new cloth
A classic tale!
"The Emperor's New Clothes" is a famous fairy tale written by Hans Christian Andersen, first published in 1837. The story is about a king who is swindled by two weavers who promise him the finest, most magnificent clothes that are invisible to anyone who is unfit for their position or "hopelessly stupid".
The story goes like this:
The Emperor, who is known for his love of fine clothes, is approached by two swindlers who claim to be weavers from a far-off land. They tell him that they can make him the most magnificent clothes that are invisible to anyone who is unfit for their position or "hopelessly stupid". The Emperor, eager to show off his new clothes, agrees to pay them a large sum of money.
The weavers, however, are actually just ordinary men who are trying to scam the Emperor. They pretend to weave the clothes, but in reality, they are just pretending to work on an empty loom. When the Emperor comes to try on the clothes, he is told that they are magnificent and that he looks wonderful in them.
The Emperor, not wanting to appear foolish, pretends to see the clothes and agrees that they are indeed magnificent. He parades around the city in his "new clothes", with all the courtiers and nobles following him, pretending to admire the Emperor's new attire.
However, a small child in the crowd, who is not afraid to speak the truth, points out that the Emperor is actually naked. The crowd gasps in shock, and soon everyone is whispering to each other, "He has no clothes on!"
The Emperor, realizing his mistake, tries to cover himself with his hands, but it's too late. The truth is out, and the Emperor's new clothes are exposed for what they are - a scam.
The story is often interpreted as a commentary on the dangers of blind obedience, the importance of speaking truth to power, and the foolishness of pretending to be something one is not. It's a timeless tale that continues to delight and instruct readers of all ages!