6 Popular Fairytale Characters Who Set a Bad Example

From Pushkin we know that a fairy tale is a lie, but there is a hint in it. Initially, such stories not only entertained, but also taught. Moreover, they were not designed for a children's audience at all. Fairy tales began to be adapted for young readers, by historical standards, quite recently. In the European tradition only in the XVIII century started thinking that children are not just unfinished adults and that a child needs a special approach.

Over the years, the attitude to educating people and the approach to their well-being has changed. Therefore, now the behavior of some heroes causes questions. Looking ahead: what now, children should not read fairy tales? Why, you can still read them, and even discuss the behavior of the character with the child, highlight right and wrong actions, analyze situations in which different traits appear, and so Further. Let's take a look at a few examples.

1. Fox from "The Fox and the Wolf"

Remember that cheat that at first she stole a fish from an old man by deceit, then she made the wolf freeze its tail and rode the beast with the saying “the beaten unbeaten one is lucky”? The fox often appears as a character who achieves his cunning. It is she who eats the kolobok, steals the cheese from the crow... Sometimes there is someone who opposes her, for example, the crane in The Fox and the Crane. But more often the predator goes unpunished.

It may seem that the fox (and other characters who act by cunning) are good. She does not have power and authority, but she gets what she wants because she is smart. But the behavior of the fox, we would now call fraud. And by deceiving the wolf, she also gained dubious, pure water buller and abuser.

2. Emelya from the fairy tale "At the command of the pike"

There is a legend about Ilya Muromets, who lay on the stove for 33 years, and then went to destroy all sorts of invaders. But at least he had an excuse: it is believed that the hero was paralyzed, and then the magi or other healers breathed strength into him, and he began to defend his land from the villains.

Emelya has a different fate: he lies on the stove, because he is fabulously lazy. But then he meets a magical assistant - a pike and becomes omnipotent. The hero forces objects to do household chores for him. Moreover, self-propelled sledges, when they go for firewood, crush a lot of people. When angry citizens call him to order, he tells the club to "break off their sides." He destroys the house he lives in because he is too lazy to get up from the stove and go out the door. He gets the princess as his wife and the throne, because the pike makes him a rich handsome man, and the king is ready to give his daughter, if only Emelya does not destroy him.

It may seem that he achieved all this in gratitude for his natural kindness - he released the pike. But this happened only after she promised to fulfill his desires.

In general, Emelya is an extremely unpleasant type, in which it is difficult to find advantages. And yet he gets whatever he wants. It certainly sounds pretty vital. But using him as a role model and admiring him is hardly worth it.

3. Nastenka from Morozko

It could be a good plot for a thriller. The father, at the behest of his stepmother, takes his own daughter to the winter forest and throws it in a snowdrift. She meets a bearded elderly stranger who is clearly mocking her, asking if she is warm. And she continues to lie that it is warm, thanks to which he deserves his approval. Frost takes her to his mansions, provides a house in which she hosts for some time. And in the end, the girl receives a groom and a rich dowry.

This tale gives the idea that if you are comfortable, obedient and forget about your needs and personal boundaries, then the inevitable happy ending awaits in the finale. The moral is generally of a religious nature: if you meekly endure all the hardships, then one day you will receive a reward. Perhaps only in the next world, but hope dies, if not the last, then along with the one who hopes.

Well, the story has its own truth. If you spend your whole life on fulfilling someone's orders and meeting other people's expectations, you will be happy only if Santa Claus suddenly bursts into life. But they say it doesn't exist.

And for children, such morality can be simply dangerous. If the child is not taught to defend own borders, to inspire obedience to elders and the need to be impeccably obedient, he is unlikely to be able to resist when some adult wants to harm.

By the way, Nastya is not alone. With some adjustments, we can add almost any princess in trouble here. Rapunzel, Snow White, Sleeping Beauty and others - their name is legion. Their life is so-so, but then a handsome prince will appear and save them. Or not, because life is not a fairy tale. But if you undertake to save yourself, the chances of success will increase.

4. Mermaid from the fairy tale of the same name

This underwater princess had everything, but she traded her family, the underwater kingdom and a beautiful voice for her feet and the opportunity to meet the prince she had seen several times. In version Disney In 1989, everything ended with a wedding. But there is also Andersen's fairy tale, which shows us a more truthful development of events.

There, the Little Mermaid is in excruciating pain with every step, but dances a lot because the prince likes it. But he still falls in love with another girl. The one that allegedly saved him from drowning, although the Little Mermaid did it. He marries a rival, and the Little Mermaid ceases her earthly existence. There is also a religious subtext in the work, but we will leave it aside for now.

Many fairy tales tell about sacrifices for the sake of love. Moreover, they tell us that if you try hard enough, sooner or later you will notice a reciprocal feeling. But relationships are always a risk, because we can only be responsible for our feelings and actions. The other person is free to do as he wants, and he may not appreciate all these sacrifices - he probably did not even ask for this. In addition, healthy relationships assume that both people are invested in them, and love cannot be earned.

So in most cases it is not worth throwing yourself into the pool of love with your head and giving up other important things for it. Relationships are a part of life, not a replacement.

5. Gerda from The Snow Queen

It seems that there can be no complaints against Gerda. A selfless girl who goes on a dangerous journey to save her friend, shows her best qualities in the process and eventually scratches Kai out of the hands of the evil snow queen. But there is a small "but".

In the tale, Gerda's efforts were crowned with success. In life, salvation often does not lead to anything good. Kai does not seem to be a villain, it was a fragment of a troll mirror that got into his eye. But compare: “He didn’t go to his mistress, she bewitched him, and I’ll put my whole life on getting him back” or “So he’s normal, it’s all the damn vodka to blame. When he drinks, we don't know where to hide. But I will cure him, even though he doesn't want to."

rescue someone who is happy with everything can make life very difficult. And even if you try hard, in the end you often expect nothing. Therefore, it is important to understand that sometimes it is better to retreat. Gerda's strategy paid off, but before following in her footsteps, you should think three times.

6. Carlson from the trilogy "Baby and Carlson"

A handsome, intelligent and moderately well-fed man in the prime of his life is very popular among the Russian-speaking population. This is a great merit of the translator Lilianna Lungina and the creators of the cartoon about this character, who made him very charming. But in his homeland, in Sweden, he does not enjoy such success. The reasons can be guessed. Carlson is an egoist, a liar and a bully.

Astrid Lidgren, who wrote the Carlson trilogy, has other mischievous characters as well. For example, Pippi Dinnystocking — a very strong girl who lives alone. Her life is also full of adventures, but at the same time she is responsible, wise beyond her years and constantly worries about her friends Tommy and Annika.

Carlson is not like that. He puts the Kid in danger, involves him in his tricks, then sets him up and generally has a bad effect on him. Anyway, bad example.