All Fur :: essays research papers

All Fur is a 19th century German tale written by the Brothers Grimm. The tale deals with incest and how a young lady can escape an abusive father. When the King's wife dies it becomes imperative that he was to marry again. However, he would not settle on any woman unless she was as beautiful as his late wife was. Ironically, the only woman in the kingdom that possesses the beauty of his wife is his daughter, with whom he becomes obsessed. In the tale it is said that, "†¦In every respect she was like his dead wife†¦" suggesting the projection of an anima ideal. This leaves no room for the princess to be different from her mother (Jewett, 20). She is the bloodline of the wife and is just as beautiful. The King plans on having an incestuous relationship with her. This is not the sign of a good parent. This type of relationship is symbolic of the faults of parents in 19th century Germany. Not all parents knew how to act the right way and Brothers Grimm account of monstrous parents brought a social light to this. The King's daughter, obviously releasing the unnatural and cynical intentions of her father, refused to let him have his way. The princess makes a decision based on her moral values and determines on her own that her father is wrong. Interestingly here, the Brothers Grimm play on a common theme that Perrault used in the development of his heroes and heroines. All Fur gives her father three tasks that must be accomplished in order for her hand in marriage. The princess, not yet at her highest level of development, which is necessary to become a heroine, tries to out smart her father by giving him seemingly impossible tasks. The King somehow manages to come up with her gifts, but in her development into a heroine she realizes that the gifts actually will help her achieve her journey to the highest level of development (Jewett 20). In 19th century Germany it was considered a horrible act to disobey or try to deceive one's own parents. However, the Brothers Grimm, through their themes of monstrous parents and moral development, show that in some circumstances parents need to be disobeyed. The princess must now begin her "journey". She uses the gifts that he provided to help her get away from him.