Vice and Virtue in Fairy Tales
And why they are important
Do you remember how clear-cut the villains were in fairy tales?
The evil unattractive step-sisters in Cinderella?
The wolf in Little Red Riding Hood?
The Evil Queen in Snow White?
Many of us remember our squeals of delight when a sympathetic main character escaped the clutches of the villain.
Look at those wicked step-sisters with feet too big to fit into the dainty slipper!
You may make a slave of Cinderella, but justice will prevail in the form of a fairy godmother and a handsome Prince. The grand ball that Cinderella was excluded from is within reach by the magic of a fairy godmother. And the wicked step-sisters will be denied good things.
Children need to believe in magic as it softens the reality of day to day living, even if a child is in a good home. Kids need to adjust to school, teachers, making friends, and other rites of passage. Conforming to the expectations of the world outside the home can be rife with obstacles, and the idea of magic is priceless in a child’s mind.
Magic gives children the gift of optimism and evil-doers getting their hopes smashed clears the way for little imaginations to make sense of life.
