Wednesday, January 14, 2009
thoughts
I thought that Bettelheim's article was much easier to understand and believe when compared with Darnton's. Bettelheim argues that fairytales are not just fun stories, but an integral part of moral and social development in children. Fairytales delve into the conscious and the subconscious to mold a person's beliefs, allowing a child to learn about right and wrong and the consequences of their actions. Although his point is clear and possible, it does not explain the reason for the creation of fairytales (especially since they have become less graphic and unhappy throughout time). Darnton explains that the purpose might have been for mere entertainment and to convey important societal concepts to an older audience. This seems much more plausible, because the change that has occurred over generations would dampen the effects of the stories for children.
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I agree with what you have said so far- but I think Darnton was also trying to point out that fairy tales were not just for kids. When fairy tales were preserved orally, children were not the only ones in the audience. Adults, too, were listening and the story teller would have gone out of his way to entertain and inform the adults as well as the children.
ReplyDeleteI didn't think that Darnton's view of fairy tales gave a fair look at what a fairy tale has become. As you state above, he did do a better job than Bettelhelm at looking at the fairy tale's origins, but I think he places too much energy trying to slander what they have become. This notion distracts his focus on presenting a clear, straightforward view on the evolution of what a fairy tale encompasses now.
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