Unscrolling the Reality of the Hard Facts in Grimm’s Children and Household tales

Abstract

Fairy tales often include different cultures and ways of doing things. The aim of this paper is to explore the myriad depths of fairy tales and the unfathomable meanings and implications which arise from subsequent readings. In spite the vicious and gory depictions of certain fairy tales, the ultimate aim was empowering children with the underlying strength for facing and overcoming life's hardships. Though debates and controversies have shrouded certain violent fairy tales, the ultimate aim was to instill awareness within children to alert them to the disasters they were likely to encounter in the real world. In weaving complex and violent themes within stories, the authors tried to encompass the deep rooted evil within society. These tales, often hyperbolic in nature due to the gory descriptions, can be viewed as the stepping stones for children to confidently into the 'big bad world'. Keeping children away from all forms of violence make them vulnerable since they are wrapped in a cocoon of safety and fantasy. This would be detrimental to a child's health emotional development and thus the author's use of violence can be a justifiable means to an end.