The past couple of months before bed, I’ve been reading The Brothers Grimms’ fairy tales. I had never read the real stories as a child, and I am glad I never did because I haven’t taken away anything useful from the 210 stories. The majority of which were vastly repetitive. Some were just down right stupid. Here are some recurring themes:
- The princess always marries the first tolerable person she meets. The kings and princes always must marry a princess.
- Inanimate objects such as beans can run away and have conversations.
- The majority of the time there is no lesson to be learnt.
- Ugly people always lose.
- The youngest brother is always the best.
- It’s okay to gruesomely kill animals.
- You can steal from people who are evil.
- Parents frequently abandon their children due to poverty or to teach them life lessons.
- Cutting off parts of your toes might win you a prince.
Tiana Feng 