Dilemma

Crucial Dilemma in a Fairy Tale

One of the most important elements in every good story is a dilemma for at least one of the characters. Fairy tales are not an exception to the rule. In fact, we can say all the classic fairy tales that stood the test of time present one or more dilemmas. These can be bigger or smaller, but they all enrich the story with situations closer to real life. The dilemma is not to choose if you want something or not. It's a situation where the character is forced to choose between bad and worse, not knowing which is which.

We'll go through the clearest examples from the top fairy tales known to virtually everybody in the world. As you already know, there will be illustrations and useful links to explore the specific fairy tales even further.

Beauty and the Beast

This story presents at least three important dilemmas. The obvious one - Beauty has to decide if she wants to save her father by sacrificing herself is the least important. The next dilemmas are way better:

• Beauty's father has to choose if he will tell about his deal with the Beast. The Beast lets him go home to say goodbye and return for certain death or sends one of his daughters instead.
• The Beast is in a dilemma when Beauty wants to visit her father. Shall he allow her and risk losing her company forever, or deny her request and make her unhappy?

Credit: https://yesterdaysdream.seesaa.net/article/beauty-and-the-beast.html

• Beauty is in a dilemma when she returns home. Should she stay for a few days more and risk the Beast's death, or return to the Beast's castle and risk not seeing her father even more?

Brother and Sister

Brother and sister escape into the woods. Their evil stepmother, who is a witch, puts a spell on the brooks, and the kids are facing an unhappy choice. To stay thirsty or to be turned into beasts?

Credit: Bruno Grimmer (1879-1936)

Golden Bird

Three princes are on a mission. The youngest is successful, and his older brothers become robbers. When he sees them under the gallows, he is warned not to save them. His dilemma is obvious. To follow the advice of his helper or to follow his heart? He makes the wrong choice. His brothers, on the other hand, don't hesitate to kill him at the first opportunity!

Credit: Max Teschemacher (1910-1950)

Goose Maid

The princess is overpowered by her treacherous servant. She is forced to promise to not tell any living soul about her royal origin. Still, her golden hair and the talking head of her horse make the king suspicious. He wants to know who she really is. She doesn't look like a goose maid! What will she do? Break her royal word, or keep the position of the goose girl? She is not able to solve this problem, but the king has an idea.

Credit: Max Teschemacher (1910-1950)

Hansel and Gretel

The most important character in the story is defined by his dilemma. It's the father. He is hungry. His wife is hungry. His kids are hungry. When his wife demands to take the kids to the woods and get rid of two hungry mouths, he needs to choose between losing his wife and losing his kids. We all know what happened next.

The dilemma of the kids at the ginger house is often overlooked. Should they eat something that does not belong to them or suffer from hunger? They make their decision, and the punishment follows.

Credit: https://frank-adams.weebly.com/hansel-and-gretel.html

Rumpelstiltskin

The miller's daughter has to spin a full chamber of straw into gold. She has no idea how to do it when a strange little man offers her his help. But he wants her unborn son in return. Her dilemma is horrifying. To die in the morning, or promise her son who doesn't even exist? She chooses the option of a prolonged life and hopes for the best. Yet, she will be facing another challenge.

Credit: https://franz-stassen.mystrikingly.com/blog/rumpelstiltskin

Snow White

The hunter's dilemma is one of the strongest in the corpus of classic fairy tales. His queen orders him to take Snow White to the woods and kills her there. Otherwise, he and his family will suffer. The hunter has to choose between the lives of Snow White and his kids. He decides to spare Snow White and he is lucky not to suffer consequences for his disobedience.

Snow White faces certain dilemmas, as well. The most important is her decision to open or not open her shelter to the old lady who brings her goodies. Dwarf warned her not to open up to anybody, but she is so lonely and bored...

Dwarfs have a dilemma, too. Should they bury the Snow White's body or not? Even dead, she seems so beautiful that they decide to put her in a glass basket, one of the most impressive objects in fairy tales.

Credit: https://wizzley.com/snow-white-and-its-symbols/

Snow White and Rose Red

Credit: https://frances-brundage.weebly.com/snow-white-and-rose-red.html

Sisters in this fairy tale make their decisions fast, and they never miss. When a bear asks for shelter, they let him in. They become friends. When a dwarf is in trouble, they help him even when he proves to be unfriendly and even dangerous. They stay true to their values, and they are rewarded for that in the end.