Themes and Male Roles in Fairy Tales
Fairy tales play a significant role in society. Fairy tales form a great part of human literature, and they are used for various reasons ranging from entertainment to the teaching of behavior in different communities. This situation is associated with the moral lessons related to the various fairy tales where individuals can learn the effects of the multiple practices, making them learn from the impact that such behaviors had on the different characters in the stories. Such tales are also relevant to the teaching of gender roles. Gender roles show what is expected of the males and the females in the society. In this case, the fairy tales form influential literature to the children making them learn different aspects of behavior, how to relate with the opposite gender, perception of various social issues in the society and moral lessons in life. Due to this reason, the multiple themes addressed in the fairy tales are considered very important in society as they enable the children to grow up and become responsible persons in the community. At the same time, the gender roles, in this case, male characters, show how men are perceived in society.
Coming of age is one of the most significant themes addressed in fairy tales. This aspect is associated with the development in humans where the life of the different characters in fairy tales is examined from when they are young until they grow to adults. This theme is among the most common. This theme enables the readers to learn the way life is and how individuals develop from one life stage to the other. Also, the issue is essential as it shows how individuals are not born heroes but rather develop from living a simple life to choosing a specific path in life and which make them become heroes when they succeed. In this case, such tales are considered necessary in society as they teach children to work hard to become what they want in life as nothing comes easy. In this case, the readers of the fairy tales can understand that transformation is real in life, and the various stages in life are associated with different roles. Therefore, the readers learn how to be smart when undertaking the various aspects as they build upon the experience they will live when they grow up. This theme is present in most of Grimm’s fairy tales.
Another common theme in fairy tales is the aspect of good and evil. This aspect is associated with the behavior of the different characters where they end up getting a reward for their actions. In this case, the different fairy tales are based on this aspect since they address the various moral elements in society. Due to this reason, the fairy tales track the nature of the different individuals throughout the stories and show their different actions concerning other characters. The stories create obstacles to the various aspects where they have to make decisions which turn to be good or evil. The tales, therefore, place a judgment of their actions where those who do good get a reward as end up being happy while those who make bad decisions also get the rewards for their efforts. Such aspects are evident in tales such as Cinderella and Rumpelstiltskin.
Gender roles also play a significant role in fairy tales. This aspect is associated with the way the different genders are presented in the stories. Male characters are considered to be more developed as compared to those of women due to the way they are diversified. This situation has been associated with the various stereotypes of masculinity in different fairy tales. In this case, males have been represented differently in the different fairies leading to the development of varied perceptions about male characters. In most of the incidences, male characters are portrayed as heroes who end up saving the day. These heroes take the form of the different princes or noblemen who do extraordinary acts. Males are also described as leaders and even as protagonists at the same time. According to (), the men are considered to have control over the different aspects of the female characters and sometimes regarded as objects of the protagonist character in females. In this case, the various fairy tale writers portrayed male characters as courageous and who were required to leave home, get married, and live their own life. This aspect made the readers see how men of honor are supposed to behave by overcoming the various challenges he faced.
In conclusion, fairy tales addressed the various aspects of society. This aspect was associated with the multiple themes it addressed and how such ideas portrayed the way humans are supposed to live. Due to this reason, most fairies emphasized the theme of coming of age, where it addressed human development from childhood to adulthood and then happily ever after. Also, fairy tales mostly discussed the aspect of good and evil. This theme enables the readers to examine the nature of their behaviors to have great rewards at the end. Gender roles also play a significant role in fairy tales. In this case, the male characters were considered to be more diversified than those of women as they were presented as superior beings who controlled every aspect of their female counterparts.