A long lost son, a deadly bet, robbery, attempted murder, and much deception all contribute to the allure of the Grimm Brother's folktale, "The Master-Thief". While the folktale appeals to the human romanticism of crime, specifically of excellent criminals, the basic story carries morals and a hidden cognizance of human perception that not always does good outdo evil.
"The Master-Thief" boils down to a story of tests. A peasant farmer meets a well-off gentleman and soon discovers the gentleman to be his long lost son. But the gentleman went from poverty to riches through being a thief. The father sends the son to the local lord, because he fears for his son's safety. The thief goes in order to ensure that he will not be caught and hanged, but rather can confront the lord while still having the possibility of ensuring his own life.…
