Grimm Psychology

Paper Summary:

This paper uses a Freudian approach to interpreting one of the Brothers Grimm fairy tales and explains how, through this approach, we can see how modern psychology can be applied to the moral allegories of days old.

From the Paper:

"Some of the most influential stories on Western and American culture today were actually written many centuries ago, and compiled for slightly more modern audiences by a pair of German brothers. The Fairy Tales of the Brothers Grimm have left an incredibly large impact on human development over the past centuries. These stories were originally written not as fun and happy-go-lucky tales for the amusement of children as they have been presented by some interpretations over the past century. Rather, these dark and foreboding tales were written as warnings about the dangers and sinful lures of life, and were used to teach moral lessons and frighten people into behaving in an acceptable way. However, the question has been raised, what is so deeply terrifying about these stories, and what is so deeply captivating about the characters and events that take place within them? Perhaps the answer lies in the deep connection these stories have to the very psyche of humanity. The psychological impact of these stories is so great because of the very strong parallel to human psychology and the workings of the mind that are incorporated into them. The "father of modern psychology," Sigmund Freud, may have practiced many centuries after the Brothers Grimm wrote their tales, but the tales are nonetheless a tool with which one can examine Freudian psychology with clarity. "Modern psychologists and cultural anthropologists read in quite a bit of emotional angst, fear of abandonment, parental abuse, and sexual development in the stories that are often read at bed-time in the West. The child psychologist Bruno Bettelheim in his book The Uses of Enchantment read familiar Grimms' fairy tales as Freudian myths." (Motor) One of the Brothers Grimm fairy tales which exemplifies this is "The Robber and his Sons," a story in Grimm's third volume which was adapted from a fifteenth century manuscript."

More papers on Grimm Psychology:

• Analytical Essay # 59240 : "The Psychology of "Tom Thumb"
• Book Review # 119206 : "Motifs in "The Fitcher's Bird"
• Analytical Essay # 122786 : "The Twin Antagonist in Grimm's "The Two Brothers"

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