The Transformation of Fairy Tales

When fairy tales first originated they were not sugar coated as they are today. They often reflected several of life's hardships that people had to face. The only minor difference is that the hardships in the story were often exaggerated in order to teach the children a lesson. For example, the old witch in "Hansel and Gretel" can be considered a gross exaggeration of the "stranger" that harms children. After all, the moral of that story is don't talk to strangers so portraying a cannibalistic witch as a stranger does an excellent job at helping kids keep away from strangers. But as time progressed Walt Disney came along and they filtered the original versions of Fairy Tales into unrealistic, love stories that always have a happy ending. This probably occurred because of the contemporary belief that children should not be exposed to the harsher elements of fairy tales, because they are too young and innocent. And in time the whole society adopted this idea as their own.

The Walt Disney version of fairy tales that always consist of happy endings and never of one's dreams being shattered, can have a very negative effect on children. That is due to the fact that by sheltering children from the harsher elements that the original versions of fairy tales used to possess, one will also shelter them from the harsher elements of reality. And by not being exposed to these elements gradually, when they will have to face the harsh reality that does not always consist of happy endings, they will most likely feel like their life has taken a drastic turn for the worse. While the truth is that ups and downs are quite common during one's lifetime, but the conflicts are often solvable. Another reason why the Disney version of fairy tales can have a negative impact on the development of children is because of the "and they lived happily ever after" types of endings. These endings make children grow up with the idea that love brings great joy, which is absolutely true; however, it eliminates the fact a relationships also consists of a great amount of effort that must be put into it in order for things to work out.

Despite the fact that there is an ever increasing return to the dark elements in fairy tales, these violent modern versions of fairy tales have managed to keep in touch with the magical elements that are associated with fairy tales. Some of the factors that contribute to the maintenance of magical elements in fairy tales are the recurring archetypal villains such as the witches, and the existing battle between good and evil as the main theme in fairy tales.