Good versus Evil in fairy tales

Good vs. Evil is a theme often used to relay lessons of morality. Because the moral lessons in fairy tales are easy to comprehend, fairy tales are considered appropriate for children or young readers. Fairy tales especially use the good vs. evil theme to demonstrate morals to young minds. The Grimm’s “Snow White”, and Perrault’s “Cinderella”, and “Sleeping Beauty”, are some of the best examples of the theme of Good vs. Evil in fairy tales. Children and young readers are at an impressionable age and are intuitive learners. Therefore, exposing them to right and wrong can help them to develop a proper moral conscience. Teaching younger people proper morals through lessons learned in fairy tales and other areas helps society as a whole. These three tales have excellent uses of the classic good verses evil theme. This theme is relevant in relaying these important moral lessons to the reader, because good and evil is a topic which is instilled in everyone from a very young age.

Good, first is represented through the protagonist in these tales. All three characters not only have their stories named after them, they are the main focal point in their stories.

The evil represented in Sleeping Beauty is portrayed by the old Fairy bitter from not being invited to the christening, not being asked to be a godmother, and having not received the gift of the solid gold casket. That contained rubies and diamonds and other extravagant items. She shows her evil side during the story when she presents her gift to the young princess: “It was now the turn of the aged fairy. Shaking her head, in token of spite rather than of infirmity, she declared that the princess should prick her hand with a spindle, and die of it. A shudder ran through the company at this terrible gift. All eyes were filled with tears.” (p. 26 F&F Tales) The evil of course aimed at the female protagonist out of revenge towards the king and queen. The threat of death is a popular approach to take towards the princess type characters as seen in Snow White. Also the death of the protagonist is important in order for the Prince to rescue the princess and to give the tale a happy ending. Sleeping Beauty’s lesson has much to do with waiting for love, but has a moral lesson of working with a bad situation and making the best out of it. This is what the good fairy did when confronted with the curse bestowed upon the young princess. By allowing Sleeping Beauty to Sleep rather than die she not only saves her life but sets her up to be awakened by the prince. It is important to remember that fairy tales although glorified and fantasy do have relevance to our lives in that the lessons and morals do mirror life. With good must also be evil with life must also be death.

In contrast to the evil represented, Cinderella is portrayed as having all the characteristics of being “good”. Not only is she beautiful and kind, but forgiving as well, which is shown during the scene where everyone finds out that she is the beautiful girl and that the prince has been searching for her. Her two stepsisters throw themselves at her feet, begging forgiveness for the way they have treated her: “Cinderella raised them, and declaring as she embraced them that she pardoned them with all her heart, bade them to love her well in the future” (p. 44 F&F Tales). Cinderella’s forgiving nature allows her to overlook the mean and evil things that her step sisters have put her through in the past. This is an example of how the female protagonist has an overwhelmingly kind persona.

With good also comes evil and in these stories plenty of evil is represented. Evil in Cinderella comes about when Cinderella’s step-sister shows true distaste and condescension towards Cinderella during the story. This becomes evident when upon hearing how much fun the ball was Cinderella asks: “Oh please, Javotte, lend me the yellow dress which you wear every day.” To which her stepsister responds: ‘Indeed! … That is a fine idea. Lend my dress to a grubby cinder-clod like you—you must think me mad!’(43). This is a perfect example of t

Some topics in this essay:
Snow White, Charming Girls, Evil Cinderella, White” Perrault’s, Snow White’s, Sleeping Beauty, Prince Charming, Goodbye Fairy, Alfred Corn, F&F Tales, fairy tales, snow white, fairy tale, evil theme, vs evil, “sleeping beauty”, “snow white”, evil represented, sleeping beauty, f&f tales, “cinderella” “snow white”, warn answer door, white” “sleeping beauty”, dwarfs warn answer, “snow white” “sleeping,