Fairy tales have evolved over time: tales that were originally full of harrowing violence have been adapted into bedtime stories. Over time, more and more versions of each tale appear, in print or on film. But why do we bother using the same tales? What's so special, exciting, or important about the hundreds of iterations of Cinderella or Snow White? Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an original essay Something about these tales is crucial to the childhoods of many of us. If you've ever brought the subject up in conversation, you probably know the overwhelming heat generated: everyone seems to cherish memories of their mother's bedtime stories or the best Disney classic. In hindsight, informing people about the original versions of their favorite tale, such as the tragic death of the Little Mermaid or the rape of Sleeping Beauty, may not always be a welcome addition to their cherished childhood memories. childhood. However, it may allow us to question the nature of these storylines, such as why they chose to leave Rapunzel's pregnancy out of the film. Starting to research these tales can feel rather like stumbling through the dark forest so often mentioned in them - with there being so many stories from around the world spanning centuries it's easy to feel disoriented and overwhelmed. Many tales date back to the Brothers Grimm and are often attributed to them. Some date back even further. Perrault's Tales of Mother Goose, for example, contains very popular stories like Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty, but also a few that seem lost in time. One such tale is Donkeyskin, which tells the story of a king who wishes to marry the most beautiful woman in the land, who unfortunately happens to be his daughter. Even though she escapes and ends up marrying a prince before living happily ever after, it's not entirely surprising that a father lusting after his daughter isn't what parents want to read to their children. Or at least we should hope so. It does, however, suggest that the acts of violence and sexual assault still prevalent today in the aforementioned stories were acceptable in the past, trickling down to children over time, but even the suggestion of incest led to abandonment of others. We can infer that the stories did indeed incorporate these darker themes at some point, as if children could hear about death but not more taboo subjects. At what point did the parents decide to eliminate the gore completely? Of course, it would be scandalous to have such violent and mature scenes in films aimed at children! It's a terrible thought. Except that these stories were not originally written for children, they were in reality simple entertainment intended for living rooms and drunken meetings. The origins of your favorite lighthearted fable were probably dark and more along the lines of horror. It might have been better if, within reason, some of this content had remained true. Once upon a time, there was someone who decided to tell their children the tragedy of Little Red Riding Hood's death following a wolf attack. Generations later, we tell the same story to our children, with the same character who somehow survives today. While we can hardly begin to question the parenting styles of the past, one might suggest that the horror and gore of theirinterpretations made sense. Aspects of rape, violent murder, and cannibalism were common features of these tales designed for adult entertainment. Yet they are now almost exclusively aimed at children. Perhaps this is because for a child, these are not only exciting adventures, but also a reflection of the inner conflicts he experiences. Should we scare our children a little more? It's possible that parents mistakenly believe that violent content leads to violent behavior, which could make them naturally hesitant to expose their children to flesh-eating wolves and the like. Some might argue that a story or video game Aggressive behavior can cause younger children to act in the same way, replicating the aggressive actions they have witnessed. However, it is important to realize that the characters who actually suffer in fairy tales are the villains. For example, in a traditional Cinderella story, the cruel stepsisters cut off their toes to fit into the shoe, after which the birds plucked out their eyes. As punishment for their abuse, they end up becoming blind beggars, while Cinderella lives a life of opulence. It's no surprise that very few children grow up wanting to be sisters, preferring to emulate people they look up to as role models. By brutally punishing bad people, it can help discourage children from committing the same crimes and receiving the same punishments. In the same way, they see heroes and heroines rewarded for their bravery, for confronting their demons and destroying life's villains, and they are encouraged to do the same. Personally, I have many memories of dressing up and having tea parties, but I don't remember ever trying to poison my sister. Protecting our children has always been a major concern for parents. Essentially, a crucial aspect of being a parent is keeping your child alive and healthy. All the gifts and socialization and schools and education, it doesn't really matter if your child is, for lack of a less extreme example, dead. Stories have been, and often still are, an excellent source of protection. Cautionary tales use fantastical villains to illustrate and warn of real-life dangers. One example comes from Nigeria, a folk tale that tells the story of a mother who, despite her efforts, cannot prevent her child from drowning. As the story goes, this woman cannot bear to remain a childless mother and is constantly looking for a new child to replace hers. Essentially, the story scares children away from water sources and wells where they might get hurt, otherwise "Mami Wata" will lure them in and drag them away. For children, it's terrifying. No, it's not nice to be afraid, but we discourage them from putting themselves in danger. In the minds of children, gullible and innocent, these tales can quickly become a pseudo-reality. Of course, they would rather hear about a woman in dangerous wells handing out candy, but that wouldn't quite have the desired effect. An interesting reading of fairy tales is that they tend to include one or more of the seven deadly sins. ; all of which threaten a child's ability to form lasting relationships. Most versions of Cinderella, for example, explore the destruction caused by envy. From Snow White and her vanity to the gluttony of Hansel and Gretel, they often center around a predisposition within oneself. If you visualize fairy tale villains as the personification of a sin or social problem, it makes sense that they.