I agree that Bettelheim feels the need
for threatening figures in fairy tale because they do help children understand
not everything is good in this world. This can indeed help them work their
fears and primitive. A fear I see that can be from the Cinderella fairy tale
would possibly be one of losing one’s parents. We see that Cinderella loses her
father and is left with a horrible stepmother to take care of her. If one were
put in this situation they would have no control over what would happen to
them. The idea of being trapped under the care of someone so cruel is very
frightening to a child. Even at this age that idea is scary to be.
If we look at the story of Hansel and Gretel
we can see the fear of being betrayed by someone who has offered to assist us
in our most desperate time. Hansel and Gretel are all alone and hungry when
they reach out to look for some help and confine in this older woman only to be
killed and eaten by her. This instills in us not to trust strangers and also
teaches children not to go into random peoples’ houses. That is a lesson we teach
to the child reader.
Another story that teaches children a
lesson is the one of Beauty and the Beast. We learn to not judge a book by its
cover and to hide the true meaning of a person, which is what is on the inside.
hey karina I also agree with you with the story beaucty and the beast. because a lot of people actually judge the cover also they judge the title beauty and the beast. when most people see the cover they say oh this beautiful princess with this ugly beast but when they actually read it they see the beast is so sweet and gentle. so yea I totally agree with you 100 percent with the story the beauty and the beast.
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