Shadows and Evil in Fairy Tales

Fairy tales appear as innocent stories, yet they contain profound lessons for those willing to dive into their depths of meaning. In this book, Marie-Louise von Franz reveals some of the important lessons hidden in stories from around the world, drawing on her extensive knowledge of folklore, her experiences as a psychoanalyst, her collaboration with Jung, and her great personal wisdom. Among the many themes discussed in relation to the dark side of life and human psychology, both individually and collectively, are:

• How different aspects of the "shadow" – all the affects and attitudes that are unconscious to the ego – are personified in the giants and monsters, spirits and demons, evil kings and wicked witches of fairy tales.
• How the issues of the shadow manifest differently in men and women.
• What fairy tales say about the types of behavior and attitudes that invite evil.
• How Jung's technique of active imagination can be used to overcome overwhelming negative emotions.
• How ghost stories and superstitions reflect the psychology of grief.
• What fairy tales advise us regarding whether to fight against evil or to turn the other cheek.

Dr. von Franz concludes that every behavioral rule we can learn from the unconscious through fairy tales and dreams is typically a paradox: Sometimes there must be a physical struggle against evil, and sometimes a contest of spirits, sometimes a demonstration of strength or magic, and sometimes a retreat. Above all, she emphasizes the importance of relying on the central, authentic core of our being – the innermost self that transcends the struggle between the opposites of good and evil.