Once upon a time, the world was filled with stories—magical tales of good versus evil. These early stories were not just about bad characters, but downright evil ones. Tales were woven to explore the harsh realities of life, addressing issues of injustice, violence, and ill deeds that often resulted in death.
There are several reasons why the legends and lore of old were so grim (or Grimm). First and foremost, life was hard and unyielding in its severity. Perhaps these tales were a way of preparing children for the hardships that awaited them, an eloquent way of saying, "Tough it out, kid...life can suck sometimes." These stories mirrored the struggles and dangers of real life, a life that included starvation, cold, people with malicious intent, and yes, wolves.
The stories also emphasized the consequences of misbehavior. If you went into the woods after dark, an evil witch might get you. The original "Red Riding Hood" ends with everyone getting eaten, teaching the moral: don’t talk to strangers or you’ll get gobbled up. In the original "Pied Piper," after he lures the rats out of the city for a fee, the townsfolk refuse to pay him, so he lures the children away, never to be seen again. The moral: don’t be greedy.
Many of these older stories were designed to frighten people into submission, warning children about the dangers of ideas and influences outside the community. The implicit message was to stay close to home, do your chores, and the community would protect you. While it’s hard to pragmatically argue with that, the world is a big, exciting place. It can be dangerous, but sometimes one must walk into the dark woods.
The problem with some of these more insular tales is that they negate the idea of the hero’s journey—a journey in which someone like Jack, of "Jack and the Beanstalk," turns his foolish whimsy into heroism and gains fortune. A more contemporary version would be Luke Skywalker, who disobeys his uncle and steps into a world of danger, ultimately gaining enlightenment and finally meeting his father.
During the Victorian era (1837-1901), many of these stories softened. They were rewritten in less severe and scary ways. "Red Riding Hood" was saved by the woodsman, and "Sleeping Beauty" is awakened by a kiss. While this may seem a bit inappropriate, try reading the original "Sun, Moon, and Talia"—that is some seriously dark stuff. In the end, these stories were designed to be less horrifying but still impart lessons of good versus evil.
I suppose I understand the Disneyfication of fairytales. Who wants their children to be fearful all the time? But I will say that as an adult, I find those darker, scarier tales fiendishly fun. Even as an adult, you might want to leave the light on after reading them.
And they all lived happily ever after...or did they?
Postscript:
If you’re interested in fairytales, I'm just about to run a new online assemblage workshop entitled “Fractured Fairytales”. Using found objects create story panels, each panel a portal into a different realm of the fairy tale. I would love to have you join the fun!
