In Hans Christian Andersen’s “The Snow Queen,” the boy rescued by Gerda is named Kay.
Kay is struck in the eye and heart by fragments of a magical mirror, causing him to see the world as cold and ugly. The Snow Queen then carries him to her palace in the far north, where he becomes absorbed in arranging pieces of ice.
Gerda, Kay’s childhood friend, begins a long journey to find him. Her kindness, tears, and love eventually break the spell, allowing the mirror fragments to leave his eye and heart. The story’s emotional center is their friendship rather than a romantic relationship.
Andersen’s tale was first published in 1844 and is divided into seven stories. Modern adaptations often simplify its structure, but Kay and Gerda remain the central pair in versions ranging from ballet to animation.