Whispers of the Past: The Vanishing Art of Folktales
Do you remember the last time you read a folktale? No, not a Disney movie, but a story with lessons? Now think of kids in the new generation. Do you think they are learning folktales? We once used folktales to teach what it meant to live, to make mistakes, and to learn. In recent years, how many of those lessons have been rewritten into happy endings?
In the past century, these traditional stories have been completely transformed by mass media companies such as Disney. What were once moral lectures passed down from generation to generation have been rewritten into widely marketable, family-friendly stories fit for global audiences. Character narratives, once complex and dark, have become simplified, and once-tragic endings are painted over with “happily ever after.”
Most of us have heard of stories like The Little Red Riding Hood, The Ugly Duckling, and The Little Mermaid. However, few of us grew up with the original versions, which frequently carried challenging themes meant to prepare listeners for the hardships of life. They warned against disobedience, judgment, and greed, often ending with consequences that structured moral lessons. As these stories were adapted into modern, animated films, such as The Little Mermaid, the plot and purpose transformed.
In Hans Christian Andersen’s original The Little Mermaid (1836), the story narrative weaves together sacrifice, pain, and cultural longing. The mermaid gives up her voice and endures great suffering for love, only to have her heart shattered when the prince marries another woman. Rather than reaching a fairytale ending, she dies and becomes a spirit, reflecting selflessness, the cost of love, and the painful beauty of it all. However, Disney’s adaptation transforms this tragic tale into a lighthearted love story filled with humor, music, and, of course, the requisite happily ever after. Ariel wins over the prince, regains her voice, and sails off into the sunset with her new husband. While Disney’s version is enchanting and potentially more fit for younger audiences, it replaces the story’s deeper messages about sacrifice and acceptance with a commercialized message of romantic victory.
These stories were changed. Villains were defeated, and tragedy was replaced with a reassuring “happily ever after.” While these versions are more appealing to children and modern society, they strip away the deeper meanings that once reflected human nature and cultural values. As a result, what were once tales of wisdom and warning have become cozy fantasies, more focused on comfort than on truth.
It is important to know that folktales aren’t just made-up stories. Many live within cultures and communities globally. From African tales (Anansi stories) to Native American creation stories to European legends, these narratives connect generations and preserve traditions that might otherwise be forgotten. They serve as a way for communities to pass down wisdom, teach morals, and explain the world through shared imagination.
When we recognize folktales as cultural heritage rather than fiction, we begin to see their deeper importance – not only as stories, but as vessels of memory that keep cultures alive.
As someone who grew up on the tail end of original folktales, I believe their importance is greater than we realize. The lessons learned, mistakes forgiven, and role models introduced are all truly important to society and the development of children and teenagers. I believe folktales can offer vast entertainment, imagination, and lessons that Disney and many other morphs of folktales do not. While it may be exciting, modern entertainment rarely has the same intent. The empathy, critical thinking, and listening that folktales fostered are vanishing along with them. As we raise the next generation, we must face the reality that while they might recognize many folktale-based characters, they likely missed the moral and cultural lessons those figures were intended to create.
Sources
Disney’s The Little Mermaid (1989) https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0097757/
Andersen, H. C. (1836). The Little Mermaid. http://hca.gilead.org.il/li_merma.html
Little Red Riding Rood illustration from 1845, author anonymous.
The Little Mermaid illustration by Edmund Dulac
The Ugly Duckling Illustration By Milo Winter
Cover: The Little Red Riding Hood Illustration https://www.pinterest.com/pin/4433299628095144/
About the author: Helen Bouchard is an undergraduate student studying Journalism and minoring in Global Studies at the University of Oregon. Her writing explores identity, culture, and the connections that shape human experience. She aims to use her voice to tell meaningful stories that inspire empathy and understanding, and she’s excited to join Align Magazine in creating unique and thoughtful blogs that spark conversation and connection.