Welcome to the second article in the Fair Tale: old stories reviewed new blog series. Share your thoughts in the comments below.
Non grieving mothers. Fear for is just as if not more dangerous than fear of or fear from. Now that sounds like a very minute difference – and you may think fear is fear what gives? The difference is relational and in the possessive.
Let’s just jump into the tale and work our way back to this statement. Jack and the beanstalk was/is one of my favorite fairy tales. I think in large part I related to the protagonist character whether he is perceived or depicted as mischievous and clever or a lazy lucky airhead. I also connect to some common themes of the story ideas of having my head in the clouds, a tendency to believe and hope beyond what is allowed, to be a fool in the face of necessity. I even relate to typical admonishing interpretation including a warning about being easily taken in and not getting what I am not expecting or the hidden consequences of action.
Sure all present in the tale. A much different tale comes into view by changing stance. It requires looking again at intention, motive and seeing the characters as a universal template – and of course not getting caught up in the material and magical aspects of the story. You can’t substitute your own judgement by taking on someone else’s. This story told to a man means one thing and to a woman another.
As the story of Jack goes (humor my attempt)… See an edge of wood a widowed aging woman stood. Looking hopeless to her son of age who is wanting in wisdom and what a husband could and then a glance to her sagging old cow nearly dried of milk – sends him in village to see what he can get in trade for one dried up beast. He takes a break from his looking into clouds where father passed to grab hold cow and town tradesmen which none but one had interest. This ghost of town offered him meager trade. For magic beans away from boy went horn and hoof. Spells less clear returned to him upon his home. Lack wonder and many tears as mother cast him all her fears their loss to tragic hunger. A morning surprise magically grown from beans tossed aground. Hardy stalk upon which any one could climb. To heavens boy ascended to climb and find against his mother’s scalding fear held the secret hope. Rather father’s ear he came upon a dangerous host. He beheld a giant – a monster over and fully grown. Left to saving some clever parts managed to trick and overthrow. Scrambled free and running haste down stalk some magical precious things unowned. A giant in pursuit, pockets full. Singing harp, lovely but untimely loud let out hidden spots all way aground. A goose who added much debate since gifts from it one had to wait. For certain were other treasures there had boy strength for weighted fare. Seeing him in all his haste a fear of what thing descended gave chase. Mother took to ax and cut stalk and all followed fell to doom below. Cut path between earth and sky. Down fell all as mother hoped? saved them or kept them from becoming prey with love and gold a glowing? Or just one of heaven’s hoarded horrors from showing?
The story ends in many different ways depending on the teller. While it might easily be safer to call it a story of greed or a story about courageously chasing your dreams, to me it appears as a story about the inability to mourn youth and the fear for someone that can take over love of someone.
A fear that leads to resentment and over protection as well as a disbelief in the ability of progenity to come unto their own and an equal fear that the care that is given will be returned.
In general, by looking at these tales with adult eyes – I want to encourage thoughtful consideration of the value of the things that we have discarded as empty of value. I hope that by revisiting them we might be able to squeeze whatever juice remains useful to improving our understanding of ourselves and the power of shifting our stance.
If we change our stance we are able to view anew.
In so far as I am able to be consistent with my writing – I hope that you receive some benefit from my series Fair Tales: old stores reviewed new. I welcome all comments and insights you share. If you are interested in more information about counseling, coaching, or collaborating with me individually or for your organization please reach out to me via david@reamtexas.com.
