Magic Spells

Magic spells are prevalent in fairy tales for a number of reasons. First and foremost, magic spells allow both villains and heroes to accomplish feats or overcome situations that may seem difficult or impossible to transcend in the eyes of a child.

One example of a positive magic spell can be seen in "Cinderella." Cinderella is a downtrodden and abused young girl who must endure the torture and jealous of her wicker stepmother and stepsisters. There seems to be no resolution to Cinderella's problems until a fairy godmother appears and grants Cinderella's wish to go to the ball in a beautiful gown. The magic spell leads to Cinderella marrying the prince and living happily ever after.

One negative use of magic can be seen in "The Fisherman and the Jinny." The Fisherman tries hard to catch food for his supper and struggles not to become frustrated...