The Voice of Death
by Andrew Lang · from The Red Fairy Book
Adapted Version
Once, a man was very afraid. He did not want to go away.
He looked for a new land. He wanted a land with no going away. He walked for many days. He found a special land. It was green and quiet. People did not die there. But a voice called them. The voice said, "Come away!" People heard it and went away. They never came back.
The man thought this was silly. He could say no to the voice. He moved his kin there. He told them, "Do not listen!" He said, "Do not go away!"
For years, they were happy. They lived in the quiet land. Then one day, his wife heard it. She heard, "Come away!" She stood up. "I must go," she said. Her husband held her hand. "No!" he said. "Do not go!" She was calm. "I must go," she said. She gently pulled her hand away. She went out the door. She walked slowly down the path. She went away and did not come back.
The man was sad. He thought she was wrong. He stayed in the land.
Many years passed. The man was at the barber. He was getting his hair cut. Then, he heard the voice. "Come away!" it said. "No!" he shouted. "I won't come!" The people looked at him. "Go away!" he said to the voice. "I will not come!" He was very upset. He ran out of the shop. He ran very fast down the street. He did not see the deep hole. He fell into a deep hole. He went away and did not come back.
The barber told all. He said, "The voice calls people. They go into the hole." People went to look. They saw only a big field. They knew. The voice means going away. All hear the voice one day. It is part of life.
Original Story
THE VOICE OF DEATH
Once upon a time there lived a man whose one wish and prayer was to get
rich. Day and night he thought of nothing else, and at last his prayers
were granted, and he became very wealthy. Now being so rich, and having
so much to lose, he felt that it would be a terrible thing to die and
leave all his possessions behind; so he made up his mind to set out in
search of a land where there was no death. He got ready for his
journey, took leave of his wife, and started. Whenever he came to a new
country the first question that he asked was whether people died in
that land, and when he heard that they did, he set out again on his
quest. At last he reached a country where he was told that the people
did not even know the meaning of the word death. Our traveller was
delighted when he heard this, and said:
‘But surely there are great numbers of people in your land, if no one
ever dies?’
‘No,’ they replied, ‘there are not great numbers, for you see from time
to time a voice is heard calling first one and then another, and
whoever hears that voice gets up and goes away, and never comes back.’
‘And do they see the person who calls them,’ he asked, ‘or do they only
hear his voice?’
‘They both see and hear him,’ was the answer.
Well, the man was amazed when he heard that the people were stupid
enough to follow the voice, though they knew that if they went when it
called them they would never return. And he went back to his own home
and got all his possessions together, and, taking his wife and family,
he set out resolved to go and live in that country where the people did
not die, but where instead they heard a voice calling them, which they
followed into a land from which they never returned. For he had made up
his own mind that when he or any of his family heard that voice they
would pay no heed to it, however loudly it called.
After he had settled down in his new home, and had got everything in
order about him, he warned his wife and family that, unless they wanted
to die, they must on no account listen to a voice which they might some
day hear calling them.
For some years everything went well with them, and they lived happily
in their new home. But one day, while they were all sitting together
round the table, his wife suddenly started up, exclaiming in a loud
voice:
‘I am coming! I am coming!’
And she began to look round the room for her fur coat, but her husband
jumped up, and taking firm hold of her by the hand, held her fast, and
reproached her, saying:
‘Don’t you remember what I told you? Stay where you are unless you wish
to die.’
‘But don’t you hear that voice calling me?’ she answered. ‘I am merely
going to see why I am wanted. I shall come back directly.’
So she fought and struggled to get away from her husband, and to go
where the voice summoned. But he would not let her go, and had all the
doors of the house shut and bolted. When she saw that he had done this,
she said:
‘Very well, dear husband, I shall do what you wish, and remain where I
am.’
So her husband believed that it was all right, and that she had thought
better of it, and had got over her mad impulse to obey the voice. But a
few minutes later she made a sudden dash for one of the doors, opened
it and darted out, followed by her husband. He caught her by the fur
coat, and begged and implored her not to go, for if she did she would
certainly never return. She said nothing, but let her arms fall
backwards, and suddenly bending herself forward, she slipped out of the
coat, leaving it in her husband’s hands. He, poor man, seemed turned to
stone as he gazed after her hurrying away from him, and calling at the
top of her voice, as she ran:
‘I am coming! I am coming!’
When she was quite out of sight her husband recovered his wits and went
back into his house, murmuring:
‘If she is so foolish as to wish to die, I can’t help it. I warned and
implored her to pay no heed to that voice, however loudly it might
call.’
Well, days and weeks and months and years passed, and nothing happened
to disturb the peace of the household. But one day the man was at the
barber’s as usual, being shaved. The shop was full of people, and his
chin had just been covered with a lather of soap, when, suddenly
starting up from the chair, he called out in a loud voice:
‘I won’t come, do you hear? I won’t come!’
The barber and the other people in the shop listened to him with
amazement. But again looking towards the door, he exclaimed:
‘I tell you, once and for all, I do not mean to come, so go away.’
And a few minutes later he called out again:
‘Go away, I tell you, or it will be the worse for you. You may call as
much as you like but you will never get me to come.’
And he got so angry that you might have thought that some one was
actually standing at the door, tormenting him. At last he jumped up,
and caught the razor out of the barber’s hand, exclaiming:
‘Give me that razor, and I’ll teach him to let people alone for the
future.’
And he rushed out of the house as if he were running after some one,
whom no one else saw. The barber, determined not to lose his razor,
pursued the man, and they both continued running at full speed till
they had got well out of the town, when all of a sudden the man fell
head foremost down a precipice, and never was seen again. So he too,
like the others, had been forced against his will to follow the voice
that called him.
The barber, who went home whistling and congratulating himself on the
escape he had made, described what had happened, and it was noised
abroad in the country that the people who had gone away, and had never
returned, had all fallen into that pit; for till then they had never
known what had happened to those who had heard the voice and obeyed its
call.
But when crowds of people went out from the town to examine the
ill-fated pit that had swallowed up such numbers, and yet never seemed
to be full, they could discover nothing. All that they could see was a
vast plain, that looked as if it had been there since the beginning of
the world. And from that time the people of the country began to die
like ordinary mortals all the world over.[13]
[13] Roumanian Tales from the German of Mite Thremnitz.
Story DNA
Moral
Death is an inescapable part of life, and attempting to defy it is ultimately futile.
Plot Summary
A wealthy man, terrified of death, seeks a land where people don't die. He finds a place where inhabitants mysteriously 'go away' when an unseen voice calls them, never to return. Believing he can defy this, he moves his family there and warns them against the voice. His wife eventually hears the call, struggles against his attempts to stop her, and follows it to her demise. Years later, the man himself hears the voice, vehemently resists, and in a desperate act of defiance, rushes out and falls to his death. The community then understands that the 'voice' is death, and they begin to experience mortality like everyone else.
Themes
Emotional Arc
denial to acceptance (for the reader) / defiance to defeat (for the protagonist)
Writing Style
Narrative Elements
Cultural Context
Andrew Lang was a Scottish poet, novelist, literary critic, and folklorist, known for collecting and publishing fairy tales from various cultures in his 'Fairy Books' series.
Plot Beats (13)
- A man wishes for wealth, gets it, then fears losing it to death.
- He sets out to find a land where people don't die.
- He discovers a land where people 'go away' when a voice calls them, never to return.
- He misunderstands this phenomenon, believing he can resist the voice, and moves his family there.
- He warns his wife and family never to listen to the voice.
- His wife hears the voice, tries to leave, and despite her husband's efforts, slips away to follow it.
- The man, believing his wife foolish, continues his life.
- Years later, the man himself hears the voice while being shaved at the barber's.
- He vehemently denies the call, arguing with the unseen voice.
- In a frenzy, he grabs the barber's razor and rushes out, seemingly chasing the voice.
- He falls down a precipice and dies.
- The barber recounts the event, revealing that all who 'went away' fell into this pit.
- The people investigate the pit, find nothing but a vast plain, and from then on, understand that the 'voice' was death, and they begin to die like everyone else.
Characters
The Man ★ protagonist
Wealthy, presumably well-fed
Attire: Fine clothes befitting a wealthy man of the time
Greedy, fearful of death, stubborn
Image Prompt & Upload
A young adult male protagonist with a determined expression, standing tall with a slight forward lean as if ready for an adventure. He has short, tousled brown hair and a clean-shaven face. He wears a simple, earth-toned tunic over dark trousers, with sturdy leather boots. A worn, hooded cloak is draped over his shoulders. His posture is alert, with one hand resting on a simple belt at his waist. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
The Wife ◆ supporting
Not explicitly described, but likely healthy
Attire: Modest but well-made clothing, including a fur coat
Obedient initially, then compelled by an unknown force, perhaps naive
Image Prompt & Upload
A woman in her late thirties with a kind, gentle face, soft brown hair neatly braided and pinned up, and warm hazel eyes. She wears a practical, earth-toned linen dress with a white apron, her sleeves rolled to the elbows. She is kneeling in a cottage garden, carefully tending to a cluster of vibrant red and yellow wildflowers, a serene and focused expression on her face. Her posture is graceful and attentive. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature
The Voice of Death ⚔ antagonist
Invisible, but implied to be persuasive
Relentless, inescapable, persuasive
Image Prompt & Upload
A tall, gaunt figure draped in tattered black robes that billow like smoke, skeletal hands emerging from frayed sleeves clutching a long scythe with a rusted curved blade. The face is a pale skull with hollow dark eye sockets glowing faintly with sickly green light, a permanent grimace etched into the bone. Long wisps of ethereal dark mist trail from beneath a deep hood that shadows the upper face. The figure stands with an imposing, commanding posture, shoulders slightly hunched forward as if looming over prey. The robes are layered and ragged at the edges, fading into shadow. Pale gray skin clings to visible bones at the wrists and jawline. Expression is cold, cruel, and calculating with an air of ancient authority. Thin lips pulled into a subtle sinister smile. Flowing dark hair visible beneath the hood, wispy and translucent like smoke. Bare skeletal feet peek beneath the tattered hem. The overall tone is menacing, otherworldly, and terrifyingly calm. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature
The Barber ○ minor
Likely wears an apron
Attire: Simple work clothes, apron
Pragmatic, concerned with his property (the razor)
Image Prompt & Upload
A middle-aged man with a neatly trimmed mustache and short, slicked-back hair. He wears a crisp white shirt with rolled-up sleeves beneath a blue and white striped barber's vest, and a clean white apron tied at the waist. He stands confidently, holding a pair of silver scissors and a fine-toothed comb in his hands. His expression is calm and professional. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
Locations
Man's Wealthy Home
A comfortable home filled with possessions, representing the man's wealth and what he fears to lose.
Mood: Initially secure and happy, later filled with anxiety and dread.
The wife hears the voice and tries to leave, leading to a struggle and her escape.
Image Prompt & Upload
Evening light filters through tall, arched windows, casting long shadows across a lavish study. Warm, golden glow from a crackling fireplace and a crystal chandelier illuminates polished mahogany floors, deep emerald velvet armchairs, and towering bookshelves filled with leather-bound volumes. A grand piano gleams in a corner, its surface reflecting the flickering flames. Ornate gilded frames line the walls, and a thick Persian rug covers the center of the room. The atmosphere is rich, quiet, and heavy with the weight of comfortable, accumulated wealth. no border, no frame, no watermark, no text, no signature, edge-to-edge illustration
New Home in the Land Without Death
A new dwelling, carefully arranged and ordered, meant to be a sanctuary from death's call.
Mood: Initially peaceful and hopeful, later becomes a place of fear and futile resistance.
The family settles in, attempting to ignore the voice of death.
Image Prompt & Upload
A serene valley bathed in the soft, golden light of eternal late afternoon. A gentle, warm breeze stirs the air, carrying the scent of honeysuckle. At the center stands a newly built cottage of smooth, pale stone and warm oak, its thatched roof neatly layered. The front door, painted a welcoming shade of sky blue, is slightly ajar. Around it, a meticulously kept garden bursts with ever-blooming roses, lavender, and silver-leafed herbs. A cobblestone path leads to a tranquil pond reflecting the cloudless, peach-tinted sky. Ancient, benevolent willow trees with impossibly green leaves frame the scene, their branches never shedding. The entire landscape radiates a profound, undisturbed peace and perfect, living order. no border, no frame, no watermark, no text, no signature, edge-to-edge illustration
Barber's Shop
A public place filled with people, where the man is being shaved.
Mood: Normal and mundane, suddenly disrupted by the man's outburst and frantic escape.
The man hears the voice of death and, in a fit of rage, grabs the razor and flees.
Image Prompt & Upload
Evening light filters through the leaded glass windows of an old-world barber's shop, casting long, warm shadows across the polished oak floor. The interior is a cozy, wood-paneled space filled with the quiet glow of brass lanterns. A single, ornate barber's chair of burgundy leather sits center stage before a large, gilded mirror. Shelves lined with mysterious glass bottles and antique shaving implements reflect the flickering light from a small fireplace. A classic red-and-white striped pole glows softly by the door. The air feels still and waiting, dust motes dancing in the beams of light. Rich, warm tones of mahogany, brass, and deep green dominate the scene. no border, no frame, no watermark, no text, no signature, edge-to-edge illustration
The Precipice
A steep cliff outside the town.
Mood: Dangerous and final.
The man falls to his death, revealing the fate of those who follow the voice.
Image Prompt & Upload
A sheer, jagged cliff face plunges into misty depths at dusk. Storm clouds gather in a turbulent sky of deep indigo and grey, pierced by the last golden rays of a setting sun. The wind whips through sparse, twisted pines clinging to the rocky ledges. Far below, a churning sea crashes against the base of the precipice, its white foam visible through gaps in the fog. A narrow, treacherous dirt path winds along the cliff's edge, disappearing into the gloom. In the far distance, faint warm lights of a coastal town twinkle against the darkening horizon. The atmosphere is dramatic, wild, and isolated. no border, no frame, no watermark, no text, no signature, edge-to-edge illustration.
Vast Plain with Ill-fated Pit
A wide, ancient plain containing a pit that seems bottomless.
Mood: Mysterious, desolate, and ominous.
People investigate the pit, discovering the fate of those who disappeared, but ultimately find nothing conclusive.
Image Prompt & Upload
At dusk under a vast, bruised-purple sky, a boundless ancient plain of dry, cracked earth and sparse, wind-whipped grass stretches to the horizon. The last rays of a dying sun cast long, dramatic shadows, illuminating the central feature: a massive, jagged-edged pit that descends into absolute, bottomless darkness. The air is still and heavy, with a sense of profound silence and ancient dread. Storm clouds gather ominously in the distance, their undersides lit by a final, eerie orange glow. The landscape is stark, desolate, and hauntingly beautiful. no border, no frame, no watermark, no text, no signature, edge-to-edge illustration.
