“Some day you will be old enough to start reading fairy tales again.”
– C.S. Lewis
They have been relegated to children’s bookshelves, allegedly because their characters are woefully undeveloped and the plots are simplistic. But is this a fair assessment of the myths and stories passed down throughout the centuries?
Of course, plenty of authors, from Maurice Sendak to Neil Gaiman, have commented that fairy tales are not, in fact, written for children. Adults have arbitrarily decided as much, based on the lack of character development, and the liberal implementation of magic in the stories. Perhaps, as Tolkien mused (via Brain Pickings), this sentiment is the natural extension of the perspective of children as mysterious small creatures, rather than simply less mature humans? What if we viewed fairy tales as bite-sized lessons for growing and learning as humans?
Fairy Tales and Ethics
When we discover someone has been wronged, we feel wronged. We endeavor to make it right. We are born with a sense of right and wrong. We feel slighted or robbed when justice doesn’t prevail in a given situation.
Fairy tales speak to this sense of justice. We see heroes defeating fearsome dragons, curses being lifted from sweet innocents, and warriors seeing their fight through to the end. The author G.K. Chesterton observed that fairy tales all put forth the “idea that peace and happiness can only exist on some condition,” forming the basis of ethics. Knowing that good and evil both come with a price is an invaluable life lesson.
The perpetual appeal of the fairy tale is similar to that of beloved classics. A fairy tale, like a classic story, highlights some aspect of the human condition, regardless of the year on the calendar. In many classics and fairy tales, the stories are purposely crafted in an allegorical style, conveying truths to the listener. Both continue to stand throughout time because they speak to the truths of the human experience. There is a reason we have told and retold the same tales, myths, and fables for centuries; they speak to the reality of being human.
To be human is to be flawed. Caught in the tension of what is real and what is fading away. To have to choose sometimes between what you want and what is best. Being human is sometimes persevering, sometimes stopping, and it’s certainly stumbling into knowing which to do when!
To put it another way, fairy tales represent aspects of our personalities. The etymology of the term ‘fairy tale’ refers to “fate spoken through guile.” Each of us has the capacity for good and evil, for virtue or vice, and the choice to obey convention or not. Again, these dualities are the basis of fairy tales. We see masculine and feminine roles clash or compliment each other; good and evil, obviously, reflected in light and dark elements.
The Disney Problem
Most of the fairy tales I read (and watched) as a kid were the Disney versions of older stories. Of course “Beauty and the Beast,” “Cinderella,” and all the others were there. My favorite princess, though, was Princess Jasmine, from Aladdin. I dressed like her on many occasions, wanted to be her, and wanted a pet tiger, too! I loved that she tricked Jafar and helped Aladdin defeat him; she struck me as being much smarter than anyone allowed her to be, which was fascinating. Looking back, I think she was the original feminist character of my childhood.
It’s common knowledge that the Disney versions of most of their fairy tale stories have been sanitized – and in some cases completely overhauled. I don’t think this is necessarily all bad. It does present an opportunity for a conversation, possibly an exploration further into the tales and aspects of truths themselves. Clearly, Disney’s brand is family-friendly, unobjectionable content. The Disney version can be a jumping off point for a conversation about stories. About the truths and virtues presented, and also about what maybe was left out. Do the stories that involve mutilation (looking at you, Cinderella), for example, really have to be told verbatim in order for the allegory about being an honest and honorable person to hold its weight?
For some, the fairy tale refers to a collection of antiquated ideas; in our modern world, we resist the idea of “true love,” or clear dichotomies of people being good and evil. In a country where the divorce rate is 51%, this sentiment is unsurprising. I would also agree that teaching young ones to grow up with their life’s goal being to get married and ‘live happily ever after’ is a dangerous disservice to our girls. At the same time, though, and with those same stories, we can show children that bad people or experiences can be overcome. We show them that persistence is a valuable skill, which will enable them to accomplish whatever they pursue. We show them that virtue is worth the effort. We can show that kindness and goodness are always the right decisions.
Fairy Tales and Comic Books
It is debatable, though, whether the fairy tale is actually outdated. We live in an era where comic book movies now gross billions of dollars routinely. Comic book movies run along the same lines of good vs evil, heroes and innocent people, and overcoming the odds. That these movies outline such timeless and similar themes, would suggest that we do, in fact, love a story of young underdogs persevering to defeat evil villains, becoming victorious warriors and famed heroes.
Fairy tales allow children to experience love, fear, loss, adventure all before they muddle through them in real life. Through a young protagonist, we can see the world as a child might; but while our protagonist faces indignities of cleaning up after wicked family members or patiently endures and enchants the beast’s imprisonment our children are safe at home. Their imaginations are running wild, as they should, solving problems and exploring distant lands. They are learning that evil can be vanquished by a noble warrior. That there are better days ahead, past the trials and fear.
The Psychology of Fairy Tales
“Fairy tales do not tell children the dragons exist. Children already know that dragons exist. Fairy tales tell children the dragons can be killed.”
– G.K. Chesterton
This is my favorite quote by Chesterton, and one of my favorite quotes on stories. The wisdom here highlights the fact that we are all engaged in a constant battle between good and evil, and that evil can be defeated. Children pick up on much more than people realize, and by letting them know the dragons can be killed, we provide an anchor of hope and resilience for them, as well as ourselves.
Fairy tales are often a child’s first exposure to perseverance, defeat, monsters, and other potential terrors. These stories allow children to deal with the emotional aspects of being lost or defeated in a safe manner, with an adult there to help process these complexities as well. When parents or other more knowledgeable people help a child read, they are “scaffolding” the task, making the goal achievable, whereas otherwise it would be beyond the child’s ability. That is to say, when parents read stories with terrors or good vs evil showdowns or praising perseverance, they are actually helping their children to learn to engage with important and applicable topics. Children’s imaginations are engaged, yes, but so are their capacities for incorporating knowledge and making connections.
Vygotsky’s zone of proximal development refers to the range of tasks a child cannot execute alone, but can complete with an adult’s help. This is where learning takes place; where a child can succeed, but only with help and guidance. For Vygotsky, this social interaction is the key to the learning process. That is, the learner develops his or her own knowledge by interacting with others. It should come as no surprise then, that Vygotsky’s views on learning have been instrumental in the design of early literacy programs.
To be sure, fairy tales are not going anywhere. Their medium may change, but preparing children for life’s battles and unexpected twists will always be a vital need. Telling stories that do so will enchant and fascinate adults and children alike for centuries to come! Today is National Fairy Tale Day, so make time to read your favorite story today!
