Examples Of Honesty In Ashputtle

Morality and Honesty in Ashputtle

Throughout the vast history of children’s literature, many fairy tales have underwent incarnations and adaptations. Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm’s retelling of the tale of Ashputtle centres on the idea of how a young woman defies the odds, and ends up marrying a prince to achieve wealth and good fortune. Ashputtle’s cruel stepsisters fail to achieve a higher social status because of their deceitful and dishonest behaviour. Remembering the dying words of her mother, Ashputtle dedicates herself to remain good, moral, and honest despite all the obstacles in her way. The Grimm’s further emphasize the perils of telling a lie by ending the tale in such a way that will leave children terrified of telling a lie. The tale …show more content…
Once the prince discovered his true bride was Ashputtle, her stepsisters tried to gain favour with her despite their dishonesty. This led to the pigeons pecking out the stepsisters’ eyes at Ashputtle’s wedding, rationalized in the final sentence as, “And thus, for their wickedness and falsehood, they were punished with blindness as long as they lived.” This leaves children with a lasting impression of why it is important to be honest. Any young child of the nineteenth century would recognize the perils of having to live with such a horrid punishment forever. Reading about this punishment would terrify any child into always being honest, because they know they risk getting their eyes pecked out by watchful pigeons. Additionally, children would be alarmed knowing that elements of nature, such as pigeons, are always aware of who is being dishonest and will punish them. By ending the tale in this manner, the Grimms ensure that children learn that liars will always get caught and suffer greatly for their moral sins. With such a horrifying ending for children to endure, it serves a purpose to alarm and educate children on the consequences that will be inflicted upon them if they are