March 21st


"Nothing made the princess happier then learning about the human world up above."

        While reading these stories, I think the most predominant theme that stuck out to me was the curiosity for an unknown world. The princess was interested in a world beyond anything she had ever known, and I think this is a take on a childhood sense of curiosity that is innate. Children, especially those who are sheltered, don't get to see the world for what it is and once they grow up and have their own free will to do as they wish, they are met with a world they know nothing about-- leaving them to struggle and be confused. 

        Hand in hand with this idea is the idea that sheltered children become poor as they get older, an idea that at the time of conception, was looked down upon because being "poor" was nothing short of illegal. Some could argue that the "child going up to the big world above" and making these huge massive acknowledgements of all of the fantastical things they see, is an allegory for the infatuation with wealth that the lower class is introduced to when they receive tiny fragments of the lifestyle the wealthy live. 

        When thinking of a child reading this in modern day, it feels quite normal. As you grow up, you are allowed to see more and more of the world you live in and can be acquainted with all of the wonders it has to offer. However, thinking of these stories in a historical context allows readers to understand the implications well beyond just a child entering adulthood. This story when viewed in the light of religion (seeing the sinful world for the first time), wealth (seeing the classism) or even race (the prejudice between cultures) can give a whole new outlook on the time periods in which these stories were retold and understood. 

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