In the lands of Morocco, where the winds carry the scent of spices through crowded markets and the desert meets the mountains, there once lived an orphan boy. His life had been marked by hardship from the moment he could remember. Without parents to guide or protect him, he depended on his courage and wit to survive. Yet even in his loneliness, he carried within him a heart full of kindness and a spirit unafraid of the unknown.
One evening, as the sky glowed red with the last light of day, the boy set out into the wilderness to search for food. The night was approaching, and in that land, the night was said to belong to spirits and creatures of shadow. Among the most feared of them all was the ghoul. Stories told in whispers around fires warned of its monstrous form, sharp teeth, and hunger for human flesh. Children were taught never to wander at dusk, but the orphan had no choice. Hunger pushed him into the danger of the night.
He walked along a rocky path until he came to the edge of a forest. The trees stood tall and dark, and silence filled the air. Suddenly, a figure emerged from behind the trunks. It was a ghoul. Its eyes glowed with a strange fire, and its long arms swung low as it crept toward him. The orphan felt his heart pound, but he did not run.
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The ghoul spoke in a voice that rumbled like thunder.
“Little boy, what are you doing here alone?”
The orphan raised his head and answered, “I am searching for food. I have no family, no home, and no one to care for me.”
The ghoul laughed, its sharp teeth glistening. “Then I will eat you, for you are nothing and no one will miss you.”
But the boy stood tall. “If you eat me, you will gain nothing. My body is small, and your hunger will return tomorrow. But if you spare me, I can help you. I am clever, and I can bring you what you need in ways you cannot.”
The ghoul paused, surprised by the courage of this frail child. No one had ever dared to bargain with it. “And why should I believe you?”
The orphan replied, “Because I have nothing to lose. If you kill me, I am gone. If you spare me, I can be of use. That is a chance worth taking.”
The ghoul thought for a long moment. Finally, it agreed. “Very well. If you can prove your worth, I will spare your life. But fail me, and I will devour you whole.”
The boy nodded, though fear pressed against his chest. That night, he returned to the village and used his wits to gather scraps of food, fruits from abandoned gardens, and even fish caught from the river. He brought them to the ghoul, who devoured them eagerly. For the first time, the ghoul’s hunger seemed to ease.
Days turned into weeks. Each time the orphan faced the ghoul, he brought food and stories. He spoke of kindness, of people helping one another, of the value of mercy. The ghoul, who had lived only in darkness and fear, began to listen. The boy’s courage and gentleness touched something deep inside the monster’s heart.
One evening, the ghoul said, “Why do you continue to help me, when I threatened to eat you?”
The boy answered, “Because no creature, no matter how feared, should be left to nothing but hunger and loneliness. If kindness can change even a ghoul, then it is worth giving.”
The ghoul was silent. For the first time, it felt shame for its cruelty. The orphan’s bravery had not only saved his life but also softened the heart of a creature everyone else feared. From that day, the ghoul no longer hunted people. It lived quietly in the shadows, fed by the boy’s cleverness and transformed by his compassion.
The villagers noticed the change. The terrifying attacks that once haunted their nights ceased. Peace returned, and though they never knew the truth, they were safe because one orphan dared to stand against fear with kindness.
Moral Lesson of The Orphan and the Ghoul
This Moroccan folktale teaches that bravery is not found in strength alone but in the courage to show kindness, even to those who seem beyond redemption. The orphan reminds us that love and wisdom can defeat fear and hatred, and that even the darkest hearts can change when met with compassion.
Knowledge Check
What is the central theme of The Orphan and the Ghoul Moroccan folktale?
The main theme is bravery and kindness, showing how compassion can overcome fear and evil.Why did the orphan venture into the wilderness at night in The Orphan and the Ghoul?
He went because hunger pushed him to search for food, despite the dangers of the night.How did the orphan convince the ghoul not to eat him in the story?
He told the ghoul that he was too small to satisfy its hunger and offered to bring it food instead.What lesson did the orphan teach the ghoul in The Orphan and the Ghoul?
He taught the ghoul about mercy, kindness, and the value of compassion.How did the villagers benefit from the orphan’s bravery in this Moroccan folktale?
The villagers were no longer attacked by the ghoul, bringing peace and safety to the land.What makes The Orphan and the Ghoul an important Moroccan folktale?
It shows cultural values of courage, survival, and the transformative power of kindness.Source: Moroccan folktale variant classified by Hasan El-Shamy in Types of the Folktale in the Arab World (2004).
