Violence as a Didactic Instrument: The Role of “Little Red Riding Hood” in Regulating Behavior Anonymous College

Contrary to the hegemonic belief that fairytales solely consist of a plot that includes niceties and happy endings, violence exists as one of the universal themes which characterize children’s literature. From a literal interpretation, fairytales such as “Little Red Riding Hood” and its various versions provide guidance to children who yearn to refrain from getting eaten alive. From a figurative perspective, “Little Red Riding Hood” instructs children to utilize their wit to identify and cope with violence. Since these works portray the violent ends encountered by malevolent characters, they encourage children to avoid inflicting violence upon others. Children’s naivete makes them vulnerable to receiving and inflicting implicit and explicit violence. However, non-children audiences of fairytales typically associate violence with punishment for misbehavior. Violence, in its purest form and as a mode of punishment, exists in fairytales as a didactic instrument, encouraging children to engage in socially acceptable behavior to avoid punishment or becoming victims of violence.

To become adolescents and successful adults, children must depart from their sheltered norms and become exposed to the reality of violence. Although children...