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Author
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Comment
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Rod
Registered User
(1/28/03 3:19:07 pm)
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Help - Fairytales & War
I have a question to pose to this esteemed panel. With a potential war with Iraq on everyone's radar screen - is there any fairytales that could provide us guidance? What should we do? Wait, Go, Timing, etc.
Thank you for all your help.
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bielie
Registered User
(2/6/03 3:39:57 pm)
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Re: Help - Fairytales & War
What about the blind guy who guided his friend into a ditch?
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enchantmentweaver
Registered User
(2/6/03 6:15:30 pm)
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Re: Help - Fairytales & War
Here's a tale:
In Grimm's "The Willow-wren and the Bear" a bear insults the willow-wren's children and a war results between all of the flying creatures and all of the four-footed animals. The children ask for an apology from the bear.
Margaret
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Jess
Unregistered User
(2/7/03 4:56:15 pm)
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Fairy tales and War
Rod,
With nearly every other family I know being somehow affected by the current diplomatic situation, it is hard for me to think of fairy tales as guidance. More is said by what is not said by those already in the Gulf or Kuwait. For those who think our military is full of war mongers, trust me that no one, especially those knowledgable about war, want it. They go out of a sense of duty, responsibility, and mostly to protect what they see as real threat to their families and their country.
So perhaps stories should focus on these things - when is peace at any cost a cost too high? Can duty be misplaced, if so when? Is the villian real? Will he/she hold to her promise (Vasilla?)? Or will he/she trick and manipulate?
I do suggest, however, that the Seven Swans reminds me of the families left home. They must remain silent and patient, always supportive, in many senses risking themselves until the shirts can be thrown over the brothers, and the brothers can come home.
Does this make any sense?
Jess
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Kerrie
Moderator
(2/10/03 2:00:25 pm)
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Silence, price of peace, etc....
To answer Jess's post in reverse:
1) Does this make any sense?
Absolutely! When tackling a question, all aspects should be considered, not only the desired focus or outcome, but who was affected along the way and how. Many modern adaptations have taken on this form, such as Zel, where the foster mother (the witch in traditional Rapunzel tales) is concerned for her daughter's wellfare, so locks her up.
2) "I do suggest, however, that the Seven Swans reminds me of the families left home. They must remain silent and patient, always supportive, in many senses risking themselves until the shirts can be thrown over the brothers, and the brothers can come home."
I think this is a beautiful statement. I never would have thought of it in those terms. I think you should write a story about it. :)
3) "So perhaps stories should focus on these things -
a) when is peace at any cost a cost too high?"
Tales to think about:
The Girl Without Hands
Donkeyskin
Rapunzel
The Goose Girl
Hansel and Gretel
b) Can duty be misplaced, if so when?
Bluebeard, in a way, seems to view a sense of duty to rid the world of curious, disobedient women.
c)Is the villian real?
Depending on your point of view, most fairy tales have "villains"- sometimes they are those we consider the hero/heroine. Many adaptations have twisted the POV to the traditional villain, detailing how they've been wronged by the real villain, the hero. One example is the story of the 3 Little Pigs, told fromt he POV of the wronged wolf.
Cases where the villain is not real:
Beauty & the Beast
Jack & the Beanstalk- if you're of the belief that the giant only became an "enemy" as he was trying to stop a thief
d) Will he/she hold to her promise (Vasilla?)?
Some might call Rumpelstiltskin a "villain" as he wants to take the queen's child (which she bargained away)- but he holds to his promises and the young queen does not.
e) Or will he/she trick and manipulate?
I'm a bit stuck on this one right now.
Hope this helps.
Sugarplum dreams,
Kerrie
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Gregor9
Registered User
(2/11/03 7:36:34 am)
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Is the villain real?
c)Is the villian real?
Jess,
I'd have to ask first: Which villain?
Greg (who frankly thinks they're ALL real)
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Jess
Unregistered User
(2/11/03 7:53:14 am)
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Villains
Ah, that is the beauty of the question. Your book, Fitcher's Bride, is a great example of misplaced trust - not recognizing the villian! When you say "they're all real" are you talking all politicians? All leaders? Specifically Bush and Hussain? Is it just those that propose war - which leads back to the other questions? Rod asked for stories of guidance, but instead I just found more questions.
I like the Baba Yaga (did I finally spell it right?) stories here. Sometimes she is a vicious villian; sometimes she keeps her word when others keep theirs. When you are dealing with her, you never know what to expect.
Jess
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