Once Upon a Faerie Tale....

Today in school we talked about faerie tales and how they have evolved over the years. Modern day faerie tales have been cute and safe and have in a sense lost their original purpose, which was too scare kids into behaving. Nowadays, it is seen as taboo to scare children, even if it is for their own good. However, the classroom discussion got me thinking about my own journey through the pages and stories that found root in European folklore. I do remember as a child, that my mother or sister would read to me at night, and like most households, that included the occasional faerie tale. "Hanzel and Gretel", "The Boy Who Cried Wolf", and "Little Red Riding Hood" were among my favorites. Probably why I developed a love for werewolves when I got older. I don't particularly remember being frightened by these stories, but I did find them fascinating and to this day I still will pick up my copy of Grimm's Faerie Tales for a good read. To me, these stories are timeless and will forever be entertaining.

I find it fascinating to discover alternate (and often graphic) versions of classic tales that have since become desensitized by entities like Disney. One of my fellow classmates shared an alternate version of Sleeping Beauty that was quite disturbing and also quite interesting. The fears and thoughts of people from the past that have been shared in these stories show that although we have evolved as a culture, human nature is what it is. Sex, violence, and a warped sense of humor existed long before television and radio, just check out the alternate version of Cinderella, Snow White, or Sleeping Beauty is you seek proof.

Modern day tales such as Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, and even Star Wars, have kept the concept of the faerie tale alive, even if it is a safer, watered down version. Although, I do suggest you take the time to go out and discover some of these stories in their original form. You may not want to read them to the kiddies, but it will surely give you a better understanding of how humans and society really hasn't changed over the last generations. It may also help you change the way you look at yourself.