help me with a question?

[isarae]

Hey guys! Falling slightly behind with catching up with you all but...I have a question (that has relevance to my uni stuff) I'd like to ask.

Why do we like fairytales?
What do we like about them?

It's a question put to me that I couldn't really answer. My childhood favourite book. Why did I like it? I didn't know because...I just do like it. I've

Comments

[suzakululou]

Personally, I think that it's the happy endings. And overcoming obstacles to get there. At least, that's what it is for me. I love the characters that stick up for themselves.

[isarae]

O_O You're on LJ. You do not do that often. (Or do you, you lurker).

This is basically what I feel too. Who doesn't love happy endings? It's the happy endings that make suffering through the trials and the angst and the hardships worthwhile.

[suzakululou]

I'm on everyday. I lurk so hard. beyond_dapper and kurt_blaine for reference

Everyone loves happy endings, I think. It's nice to know that, yeah, all the hard work pays off <3

[isarae]

I guess it's fair. I lurk your blog pretty hard.

[renegade]

I think we like to become absorbed in a fantasy world, where animals can talk or a teapot comes to life, with beautiful princesses. And we enjoy the classics, we are told the stories of Sleeping Beauty, Snow White, Cinderella etc as kids and the love continues as we grow into adults and then share these stories with other children so they continue to live on. They are just lovely stories of love and friendship and overcoming hardships. And who doesn't love a happy ending?

[isarae]

Escapism and nostalgia... :P

I guess part of it is also wanting to connect with that person (child) we were when we first saw them, and get absorbed back into that world. It's like why we reread books...the difference here is that we're guaranteed a happy ending, and from that, a knowledge right from the start that whatever happens, whatever hardships get thrown in the hero/heroine's way, they'll get through it and live to have a happily ever after.

Thanks for replying. I'll be looking back at these when I get stuck writing this and need to remind myself what fairytales mean. :)

[bishieobsessed]

I grew up with the Disney version of most of the classic fairy tales and was pretty shocked when I found out how much darker these stories are in their original forms. I felt pretty deceived, like I'd been believing a lie all my life. But then I got over it, 'cause I love those Disney versions~ :P

Anyway, I think we like fairy tales because we can identify with the characters and, to an extent, want our own fairy tale to live. Something like that.

These links might contain some useful insight for your question~

Why We Love Fairy Tales

How Fairy Tales Shape Our Lives

[isarae]

Thankyou for the links!! They were very helpful indeed (and reminded me that I need to watch Once Upon A Time...)

Yeah, to be honest, the Disney movies are the first things I think of when I think fairytales. I guess because to us, they embody what fairytales are.

Disney in particular because...well, the endings can't be sad. There can't be a death as a resolution (for characters on the good side).

The first link makes a good point that it's because we're living in the 'Act 2' of our lives, and maybe we like them because we want to get to 'Act 3' and have a happy ending.

And maybe, because they're fairytales, it's okay to love them because they're just stories at the same time.