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Fairy Tales
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Recently I was reminded of Hans Christian Anderson's "Red Shoes". I remembered it as a bit brutal, and re-reading it hasn't changed that. Vain or disobedient girl = feet cut off to be replaced with wooden ones.
Led me on to think about the "Matchstick Girl" - i.e. okay for wee girl to be abused, impoverished and to die on the street because she was going to the "better place" of heaven.
Are there any other fairy tails which are extremely dubious in delivering their message?
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When I was little my dad read me stories from a fairy tale book, and "The Little Match Girl" reduced me to tears every time. Dad used to say that the point of it was to show how well off we are compared with the little girl in the story. I found the old book recently and, of course, could not resist reading this tale again. It had just the same effect as all those years ago.
I think a lot of stories for children written in the 18th & 19th century seem cruel and warped, but I think that they allow kids to experience identification with others and strong emotions. There is often an element of "not fair" and certainly no happy ever after. Prepares one for adulthood in a certain way.
Second to "The Little Match Girl" I would nominate "Little Red Riding Hood". How could she be so unobservant in the matter of Granny's appearance? Why was she wandering in the dangerous wood alone? How come she had no friends? It seems OK for the nasty wolf to get rid of Granny without any repurcussions. And finally, how come Dopey Red Riding Hood did not go the same way?
I think a lot of stories for children written in the 18th & 19th century seem cruel and warped, but I think that they allow kids to experience identification with others and strong emotions. There is often an element of "not fair" and certainly no happy ever after. Prepares one for adulthood in a certain way.
Second to "The Little Match Girl" I would nominate "Little Red Riding Hood". How could she be so unobservant in the matter of Granny's appearance? Why was she wandering in the dangerous wood alone? How come she had no friends? It seems OK for the nasty wolf to get rid of Granny without any repurcussions. And finally, how come Dopey Red Riding Hood did not go the same way?
I agree Hippy, I still remember the very first time I saw the Little Match Girl on the telly (where I got the matchstick girl above I don't know! :)) It made me extremely sad. Having read it again I can't help feeling it had a bit of "religion as opium of the masses" about it. Yes, it made us feel grateful we weren't her, but it didn't say her circumstances were wrong. I know what you mean tho, much more realistic than happy ever after!
In The Brothers Grimm's Snow White, she and the Prince invite the wicked Queen to their wedding and force her to wear red hot shoes which make her dance until she dies. Twisted stuff I'm sure you'll agree and the only message I can think of is to tell kids that extreme and twisted revenge is justified. I can only assume it was a big favourite at bedtime in the Bush household.
most fairy stories have a sinister undercurrent running through them. In fact some early school bible books used to have a story of Jesus as a child turning people into stone but they are now banned!
Shakespeare's 'The Tempest' is a really good illustration of a fairy story with all the undercurrants - horrible monister (but he spoke in rhyme hence nudging us to believe he was redeemable) beautiful girl, soppy lead man, enchanting fairy and meglomaniac father. What about Hanzel and Gretal??? Cannibalism!
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