A few things can be learned from a childhood spent devouring Greek myths, Arabian legends and the classic tales of Grimm, Perrault and Andersen. Life is difficult and challenging; bad things happen to good people; the course of true love never runs smoothly; and we all live happily ever after.

Unless this life is a Hans Christian Andersen story, in which case we’ll die miserable and alone.

 

Peter Pan' by J.M. Barrie
'Peter Pan' by J.M. Barrie (gouache on paper) Illustration by Anne Grahame Johnstone © Anne Grahame Johnstone. All Rights Reserved 2024 / Bridgeman Images

 

1. Peter Pan: Girls are always going to be more mature than boys.

 

“One girl is worth more use than 20 boys.” ― J.M. Barrie, Peter Pan

 

You might want to stay a lost boy forever, your girlfriend probably won’t. Let’s not forget that Wendy decided to get her act together and grow up, taking all the other boys back to London with her, and leaving Peter on his own to stay young forever in Neverland. 

 

Little Red Riding Hood by Arthur Rackham
Little Red Riding Hood by Arthur Rackham / Bridgeman Images

 

2. Little Red Riding Hood: Invest in good eye care.


Everyone needs to venture off the beaten track at some point in his or her life, so no one can blame Red for doing that. But confusing a wolf for your grandmother? That’s just inexcusable.

 

The Mad Hatter's Tea Party
The Mad Hatter's Tea Party, illustration from 'Alice in Wonderland' by Lewis Carroll (1832-9) (colour litho) by John Tenniel / Bridgeman Images

 

3. Alice in Wonderland: Just do it.


Throw all caution to the wind and have a grand adventure! Follow the white rabbit, drink from that mysterious bottle and go to tea parties with strangers. You’ve already made so many other inadvisable decisions in your life – what’s the worst that can happen?

 

Tristan and Isolde
The Love Potion, intended for Isolde the Fair and King Mark of Cornwall, but drunk by Tristan and Isolde the Fair, from 'The Story of Tristan and Isolde', William Morris & Co. (stained glass) Window from the Music Room, Harden Grange, nr. Bingley, Yorkshire;© Bradford Museums & Galleries / Bridgeman Images

 

4. Tristan and Isolde: Sometimes love is forever.


 

The love triangle to end all Arthurian love triangles: Sir Tristan and Princess Isolde fall in love (by magic potion or poor judgement) and cannot bear to be apart even when Isolde marries to King Mark, Tristan’s uncle. Eventually the adulterous couple are discovered, Tristan is killed and Isolde dies of a broken heart. This immoral legend reminds us that, in some cases, you just can’t just “get over them”. 

 

The Little Mermaid before a statue in the sea
The Little Mermaid before a statue in the sea, illustration for a fairy tale by Hans Christian Andersen (1805-75), from 'Album du Pere Castor' published by Flammarion, 1937 (colour engraving) © Archives Charmet / Bridgeman Images

 

5. The Little Mermaid: Sometimes you can’t have the one you want.


 

You may love him with all your heart. You may leave your family, give up your voice and change yourself to be with him. But, as the original Hans Christian Andersen story shows, you can’t make him fall in love with you. This tragic tale pulls no punches and teaches us from a young age that you don’t always get your prince, no matter how hard you try.

 

The Frog King
The Frog King or Iron Henry (colour litho) © Ackermann Kunstverlag / © Estate of Paul Hey. All rights reserved 2024 / Bridgeman Images

 

6. The Frog Princess: Give people a chance.


Let’s get one thing clear: the princess in question only kissed one frog, who just so happened to be a handsome prince under a spell. So you don’t actually need to kiss many frogs, you just need to kiss the right frog – but frog-kissing is still essential, so give that guy or gal a chance and it might just pay off.

 

 

Cinderella leaving for the Ball
Cinderella leaving for the Ball by Arthur Rackham / Bridgeman Images

 

7. Cinderella: It’s not what you know but who you know.

 

Never forget the importance of networking: where would Cinderella be without her fairy godmother? Most likely still sweeping cinders out of the fireplace. While many fairy tales commend success through one’s skill, talent and hard work, this story reminds us that friends in high places can also give us a boost.

 

Cordelia's Portion
Cordelia's Portion, 1867-75 (oil on canvas) by Ford Madox Brown Southampton City Art Gallery / Bridgeman Images

 

8. Love Like Salt: Biological family can be as bad as stepfamilies.

 

A king casts away his daughter in a fit of anger because she claims to love him “as much as food loves salt”. Fairy tales most commonly feature stepmothers who snub the children, but this international story – with versions found from Italian to Indian literature and even influenced the beginning of William Shakespeare’s ‘King Lear’ – shows that blood fathers can be just as malicious.

 

Cupid and Psyche
Cupid and Psyche, 1798 (oil on canvas) Bridgeman Images

9. Cupid and Psyche: It’s never too late to make amends.


The classic Greek myth – girl meets boy, girl wrongs boy, boy leaves girl, girl travels far and wide, performs three Impossible Tasks and eventually wins boy back – inspired countless more stories for centuries after. Psyche messes up at crucial moments but her continual perseverance to find Cupid again eventually gains her immortality and ‘happily ever after’ – which goes to show that a mistake is not fatal and you can always right your wrongs.

 

 

Scheherazade and the caliph
Scheherazade and the caliph, c. 1920 (illustration) Photo © CCI / Bridgeman Images

10. 1001 Arabian Nights: Read more books.


Scheherazade, the wise and cunning protagonist, extended her life each night by ending her tales on a cliff-hanger. Her storytelling, intelligence and passion for learning eventually overcomes her cold and distrusting husband, King Shahryar, and saves her life. Surely there’s a moral in there somewhere.

 
What lessons have you learnt from fairytales and childhood stories? Let me know in the comment box below!


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