Why is the Pied Piper mean?

Answer 1

Originally he came to Hamelin to rid the town of all the rats that were infesting the town. He asked them if they would pay him 1,000 guilders for his work. The townspeople said they would pay him 50,000 guilders if he would just get rid of all the rats. The Piper did so, but the townspeople refused to pay him 1,000 guilders. Instead, they offered him 50 guilders and a drink so The Piper used his music to enchant all the children of Hamelin to leave with him, except one boy with a limp who wasn't able to keep up.

Answer 2

The Pied Piper story portrays him as mean because he was seeking revenge for not being paid for ridding the town of rats. His actions in leading the children away also stem from a desire to punish the town for their broken promise, rather than appearing mean in a general sense.

Answer 3

The Pied Piper of Hamelin is a folk tale written down by the Brothers Grimm. It tells about a disaster in the town of Hamelin, Germany, that supposedly occurred on June 26, 1284. In that year a man came to Hamelin claiming to be a rat-catcher. The people of Hamelin promised him payment for killing the rats. So the man took a pipe, attracted the rats by his music and made them follow him to the Weser river, where they all drowned. Despite this success the people reneged on their promise and did not pay the rat-catcher. The pied piper left the town of Hamelin, after being tricked by the people. But he returned several weeks later, while the inhabitants were in the church. He played his pipe again, this time attracting the children of Hamelin. One hundred thirty boys and girls followed him out of the town, where they were lured into a cave and sealed inside. Depending on the version, at most two children survived.

Answer 4

It's about payback or revenge or making a point. He led the rats away from the village, but when the villagers didn't compensate him, he led away all the village children.