Wicked stepmothers and beautiful princesses ...magic forests and enchanted towers ...little pigs and big bad wolves ...Fairy tales have been an integral part of childhood for hundreds of years. But what do they really mean? This book presents an exploration of the best-known fairy stories.
Has Sigmund Freud been seriously misunderstood? Do standard translations serve only to distort his thought and conceal a profound humanism? Bettelheim cuts through the myths to reveal a greater, more passionate and also far more disturbing figure than he is usually portrayed.
Bettelheim's approach to child rearing is featured in this book. It examines the main issues that parents face and guides the parent through the stages of a child's development. He encourages a sense of security in the parent, which, in turn, should reinforce the child's own self-confidence.