In the world of the fairy tale, witches and crones are not the only characters who generate mistrust and fear — ‘others’, outsiders and so-called misfits pushed to the margins of society, figure prominently in many tales. In these stories, people living outside the norm are branded as villains or monsters. The Beast from ‘Beauty…
In fairy tales, women are often cast in the role of maiden, (step)mother or crone, many stories focus on the transition from girlhood to womanhood, with marriage (and motherhood) the ideal outcome. Coming-of-age journeys in classic tales, however, are often fraught. There are dangers for girls who fail to adhere to societal expectations — they…
Not all those who find themselves deep in the woods have gone there willingly, with lost or abandoned children recurrent characters in fairy tales — at a time when women frequently died in childbirth, their remaining children often faced challenging domestic situations. In ‘Hansel and Gretel’, the siblings are abandoned in the woods by their…
Family dynamics play a crucial role in fairy tales. Many begin with a rupture in the home that compels a character to undertake a quest, which then provides the setting for lessons in independence and resilience. Estrangements come in many forms: between children and vindictive step-parents (with their equally unpleasant offspring), or between jealous siblings…
Transformation is an essential element in the fairy tale tradition. A change of appearance (a frog becoming a prince) can signal or conceal a character’s true identity. Temporary illusions (a pumpkin turning into a carriage) and changes in financial or social standing (a servant becoming a princess) allow characters to experience other realms. While some…
Continue reading » “Fairy Tales: Transformation & enchantment”
‘Fairy Tales Cinema: Truth, Power and Enchantment’ continues to expand our ideas about fairy tales this month with free screenings on Fridays and Sundays. Screening this week & upcoming January brings together a selection of films which reflect the far reach of fairy tales. Adapting to different contexts, fairy tales such as ‘Hansel and Gretel’…
Continue reading » “Fairy Tales: Unmissable films in January”
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