One day a merchant who is a widower and also a father of six children, goes on a journey to gather his belongings from his ship that he thought had sunk. When he comes from the journey, he is exhausted, hungry, and dirty; basically inneed of hospitality. He comes across a castle and decides to enter. Thedoor isopened forhimby ahiddenfigure, and he eats and sleeps. The next morning, he wanders around and finds a garden. Before the merchant left, he had asked his children what they had desired. His sons said weapons and his daughters desired silk and clothes. However, one of his daughters, who was the youngest of all children, wanted simplyarose. Andinthatgarden, thereweremany. Hepicks a rose, and suddenly, a huge beast looms over him. The beast isenragedthatafter all of his hospitality, themerchant decides to thank him by taking his most prized possession: the roses. The merchant begs to be released. He tells him that the rose was only meant as a gift to his youngest daughter. The beast, however, requires something from the man in exchange for his freedom. If the merchant leaves, then one of his daughters must come and stay with him in the castle. Regretting and reluctantly, he slowly agrees and shamefullytreadshome. What is the theme?