Response # 1

Many people believe this is where the fairy tale tradition all began. Robert Darnton discusses the long historical tradition of fairy tales that extends centuries before the Brothers Grimm. In the early days of fairy tales, they were used for entertainment for adults. In France, the first collection of stories was printed for the courtiers. The stories were raunchier and there was no need for symbolism it seemed. These older tales were often watched as performances for all ages. They as Darnton says "were meant to amuse adults or to frighten children" (287). In France, the veillee was an institution that allowed men and women to work while tales were performed aloud. The purpose of these older stories was far from being children's entertainment alone. Darnton points out that many recurring themes were that of rape, sodomy, incest, and cannibalism. This seems very different from the stories I heard growing up. This evolution of the stories shows the long history of these tales. The stories were preserved over the centuries because of the cultural significance. Many of the storytellers adapted their versions to fit the people and places with which the audience would be familiar. The long historical tradition that Darnton illustrates is clear evidence that these stories are much more than just children's entertainment. While Bettleheim gives evidence to the fact that these stories are important for the development of children, I felt that Darnton gave a more helpful in seeing fairy tales in a different light rather than for the sole purpose of amusing children.