On the Use and Abuse of Folk and Fairy Tales with Children

Abstract

On the Use and Abuse of Folk and Fairy Tales with Children Bruno Bettelheim' s most recent book, The Uses of Enchantment, which purports to study the meaning and importance of folk tales1 for child development , is actually an unconscious expose of orthodox Freudianism's crippling effects on psychoanalytic theory and literature. Bettelheim was impelled to write the book because he "became deeply dissatisfied with much of the literature intended to develop the child's mind and personality, because it fails to stimulate and nurture those resources he needs most in order to cope with his difficult inner problems. "2 Therefore, he explored the great potential of folk tales as literary models for children since "more can be learned from them about the inner problems of human beings, and of the right solutions to their predicaments in any society, than from any other type of story within a child's comprehension" (p. 5)· This is, indeed, a grandiloquent statement in behalf of the folk tale's powers, and what's more, Bettelheim assumes an even more noble pose when he pleads that children should be provided with substantial cultural goods which will enable them to become masters of their destiny. However, despite his noble intentions and moral concern in the welfare of children, Bettelheim' s book disseminates false notions about the original intent of Freudian psychoanalytic theory and the literary quality of folk tales which ultimately reveal him to be nothing more than a humanitarian do-gooder who mystifies the dehumanizing forces in society. Not only is the manner in which he would Impose meaning onto child development through the therapeutic use of the folk tale authoritarian and unscientific, but his stance is symptomatic of numerous pseudo-humanitarian educators who perpetuate the diseases they desire to cure. Such educators apparently write and act in the interests of children but actually lame them by applying outmoded and unproven principles of psychology and child-rearing which require children to conform and adapt to repressive conditions of a social order that legitimizes the arbitrary use of power by elite groups. Ironically, it is because of Bettelheim*s contradictory position that his book is valuable» it opens up a debate about the imagination and the use of folk tales for children which I should like to explore in this paper. First, I want to present a more detailed critical review of Bettelheim* s theses. Then I want to discuss the importance of the imaginative components in folk and literary fairy tales and suggest ways in which they can be used with children to heighten their awareness of the social forces acting upon them. Bettelheim 's major thesis is a simple one: "the form and structure of fairy tales suggest images to the child by which he can structure his daydreams and with them give better direction to his life" (p. 7). In other words, the folk tale liberates the child's subconscious so that he/she can work through conflicts and experiences which would otherwise be repressed and perhaps cause psychological disturbances. According to Bettelheim, folk tales are an imaginative depiction of healthy human development and help the child understand the motives behind his/her resistance against parents and the fear of growing up. The conclusions of most folk tales portray the achievement of psychological independence, moral maturity, and sexual con- fidence. Obviously, as Bettelheim admits, there are other approaches to folk tales; Bettelheim limits his discussion to the more well-known tales. The book is divided into two parts. The first, fancifully entitled "A Pocketful of Magic , " focuses on a theoretical explication of his concepts , method, and purpose. The second part, "In Fairy Land," consists of 14 case studies of such different tales as "Snow White," "Hansel and Gretel," "Jack and the Beanstalk," "Little Red Riding Hood," "Cinderella," etc. In the first part, Bettelheim maintains that adults should not explain the tales to children since that would destroy their "magic." However, adults should tell the tales because that shows approval of children's imaginative play. Children are allegedly drawn to folk tales because they symbolically depict the psychological problems which the children must work through byj themselves . In doing this, a child supposedly...