Schlemihl trades his shadow with a peculiar gray gentleman for a pouch full of gold that never empties. However, he quickly realizes that losing his shadow means being excluded from human society. He is deceived by a servant and must give up his love for Mina because he refuses to sell his soul in exchange for his shadow. He destroys the cursed pouch and buys a pair of old boots with his last money, which turn out to be seven-league boots. With their help, he leads a solitary life as a naturalist. This is a dramatic, wonderfully sad story told in captivating images about identity and relationships, true and false friendship, the value of inner and outer wealth, misfortunes, societal pressures, and the price of freedom.