“The Water Life” is another do-gooder tale. This time around there are some consequences and obstacles. A younger brother must face up to his two older brother’s cunning and jealousy. The man never looses sight of his good nature even when his father turns on him, believing the deception of the other siblings. Barbara Rogasky eloquently retells this story with mystical illustrations by Trina Schart Hyman. The artwork brings me back to a time of how fairy tales were drawn when I was a child. I am reminded of Disney’s Beauty and the Beast and The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis. This narrative has a battle between good and evil. The younger brother fights the old man’s warnings about how cunning and evil the older siblings are. The good one does not want to believe this and will go to the end of the world for those he considers his blood. The older men just want what they don’t have and will do anything to have it. Everything is beneath them, they deserve the best, and nothing will stand in their way except for the pride of undeserving men. In the end being kindhearted triumphs over wickedness, even with all of its flaws and naiveness. The man rid three kingdoms of war, saved his father's life, broke a curse on a princess, and got to marry her in the end. With all this selflessness he was able to keep his life after his father put an order out for his head. |
Grandma's Tales
You thought you knew your fairy tales and fables until now.