Research Scholar

Human Development and Family Studies

Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agriculture University,

Hisar   Haryana, India 

Professor

Human Development and Family Studies

Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agriculture University,

Hisar, Haryana, India

 

(https://usborne.com/browse-books/catalogue/product/1/12613/fairy-tales-for-bedtime/)

Abstract

Children’s literature helps a young child make sense of what it is to be human and helps them understand the world around them. The fairy tale genre provides ways for children to receive important messages. Based on the Jungian interpretation, fairy tales teach children how to deal with basic human conflicts, desires, and relationships in a healthy way; acquiring these skills can ultimately impact a child’s health, quality of life, or even influence its values and beliefs in the future. One of the key reasons fairy tales are important is that they support child development. Fairy tales are often designed to test children's initiative. Not only is it important to read the story, but letting the child act out the story is also important for developing a child's consciousness and moral development. “I’m mad at Disney, Disney, They tricked me, tricked me, Had me wishing on a shooting star, But now I’m twenty something I still know nothing…About who I am or what I’m not” (Salem Ilese). And still being mad pertains as it's hard to wrap heads around the fact that every story has a happy ending. Moreover, every story starts with “Once upon time everyone was young, playing, laughing and relishing some sorts of fairy tales”.Reading and dreaming on such concepts often makes us oblivious to realize that it’s all a lie. And a major consequence of these plethora of lies is that it imprinted our entire mindset about the real world. In the sweet beaded mesh of fairy tales we actually skipped away from the villain which were the actual mirrors of reality. The ones with a logical background story and experiences supporting why they end up like this, without whom the entire fairy tale won’t be even possible the villains of the story or are they really the villain?

Keywords: fairy tale, villains, children, literature

Introduction

“I’m mad at Disney, Disney, They tricked me, tricked me, Had me wishing on a shooting star, But now I’m twenty something I still know nothing About who I am or what I’m not” (Salem Ilese)

And still being mad pertains as it's hard to wrap heads around the fact that every story has a happy ending. Moreover, every story starts with “Once upon time everyone was young, playing, laughing and relishing some sorts of fairy tales”.Reading and dreaming on such concepts often makes us oblivious to realize that it’s all a lie. And a major consequence of these plethora of lies is that it imprinted our entire mindset about the real world.Everyone dreamed of being a part of it, dreamed of having a fairy godmother, dreamed of finding our princes behind the beast, we dreamed of munching over a chocolate house. All wished for being heroes of their favorite fairy tales. Without even realizing the reality.But the lesser known facts that some part of those stories is actually true. So let's turn a few pages and see if someone is left to remember??? Yes!! Absolutely, What about that evil witch, about those stepsisters, about Ursula, or that wolf behind pesky pigs? In the sweet beaded mesh of fairy tales we actually skipped away from the villain which were the actual mirrors of reality. The ones with a logical background story and experiences supporting why they end up like this, without whom the entire fairy tale won’t be even possible. The question is maybe, just maybe we took the evil queen all wrong?? Or were the “wicked” stepsisters in Cinderella really all that evil, or was Cinderella just obnoxious and overwhelmed ? Were the bears menaced by Goldilocks or was it the other way around? After all, as they say, even the villain is the hero in their own story. Even the vicious villains have certain positive impacts that they draw in our mind.

But before starting to rant on why and why not it’s necessary to understand how such stories manipulate the brain to develop learning and mental schemas. Indigenous literature (legends, myths and tales) help a child to develop a better understanding of the external world. Each story lies within certain cultural aspects.Children develop a certain level of relevance with them as they are able to seek all the answers they kept nagging adults about.Bettelheim said “The best thing about fairy tales is not the fact that there are dragons but that they can be defeated.” They help a child develop a positive self esteem and belief in him or herself. Having a large share on how a child tends to see the world and develop a combating mode the sole credit for this contribution goes to the villains. According to Zipes “Fairy tales have magic not to enchant us but enlighten us.” And it's on our own wit which side we accept to enlighten our learning and seek reality. The article will one by one discuss some stories:

Sleeping Beauty

            It's a tale as old as time about sleeping beauty, how the maleficent cursed an innocent child and made her sleep for years. Readers know about the beauty’s side of story but it's yet to uncover the other one. We were totally kept away from the fact that the parents of the innocent young girl were not that innocent. The parents in celebration of the birth of the child called every special and common to the palace , but didn’t invite “The evil Fairy: Maleficent”. If the same incident happens with someone like us, how would you feel?? “insulted” Right!! That's what she did. She tends to portray a strong quality of standing for herself in order to serve her own respect. That is necessary for a child.

(https://hi.fanpop.com/clubs/childhood-animated-movie-villains/images/37238871/title/heroes-vs-villains-wallpaper)

Beauty and The Beast

             It sure is a beautiful story but the entire problem lies in the basic concept that is “ logic”. In the complete story, what Gaston tries to do is impress a girl which an entire village saw as weird, teaching us that every different perception isn’t weird and to love differently. On the other hand, the beast forced Belle to love him for his own greed ( love me or I’ll be doomed).What Gaston ever did was to try and save the girl acting rationally and portraying courage. Yet what readers were directed towards was his nature of appreciating self, It can be said that a little self obsession is necessary. Overall concern is that Gaston makes much more sense than the beast.

The Little Mermaid

            Ursula, sister of the king of the sea, neglected the oppressed and her reflection on such behavior was quite understandable. According to me being the sibling under the kingdom of sea, gives everyone equal rights over the throne. But she was insulted and pulled away from her rights because of her suppressed beauty, which I think is just a different shade for beauty. And just because she looked tad different than others she was thrown out of her own home and forced to live under deep darkness. And even after all that what she ever did was helping aerial with is fulfilling are unspoken desires even if it was for overpowering the king but that’s a fair political tactic. And yet she was tagged as a bad person. So I ask you ,Is it wrong??To stand up for self, help others, self love or even sheer use of the brain.

Conclusion

            The term “psychological,”refers to relevance for mental life in its entangled cognitive and affective functioning,which is apparently a characteristic of fairy tales as it speaks directly as well indirectly to the psyche. And a major role for the contribution as I said is played by the villains. They stimulate a spectrum of feeling, insatiable quests within, and perpetual searches for meaning. Even with passing years, there's a hidden desire, an unknown temptation to know what will happen to Cinderella and Rapunzel, to Jack, to the man who needed a godfather, and to the unnamed youngest daughter who asked her father for a rose. Moreover we need to know whether the other side was able to develop a warmth or discover their paths, for they are the actual ones who paved the story. Beyond sense and beyond justice and morality, the fairy tales beckon us and we sit on the edge of our chairs waiting to find out what lies ahead even when we have heard the tale a dozen times before. It's precisely quoted “ One is never too old for a new goal, a new dream, or a new fairy tale.”

References

1.         VisikoKnox-Johnson, L. (2016). The positive impacts of fairy tales for children. University of Hawaii at Hilo Hohonu, 14, 77-81.

2.         Collier, Mary J., Gaier, Eugene L. (2015)Adult Reactions to Preferred Childhood Stories. Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection. 29(1):97-103. 

3.         Hill, L. (2015).Fairy Tales: Visions for Problem Resolution in Eating Disorders. Journal Of Counseling & Development 70(5):584.