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Reading notes: Italian Popular Tales, Part A

Story source: Italian Popular Tales by Thomas Frederick Crane (1885).

Damsel in distress
All of these stories had a similar theme. I noticed that the number three was found in each introduction. Maybe three makes the most well-rounded story. These stories are also very black and white. If you do something, usually a man, thinks is wrong it is, "off with your head" or "send them to the dungeon to be hanged." There is no explanation, just death. And then a bargain is made so that person, usually a woman, can live. The punishment is always so much more harsh than the crime. The women in these stories are treated very poorly and are considered very little. There is not any discussion of how the characters feel, especially the women who are frequently the victims of a child stolen from a witch, a father wanted to murder them, a prince giving them no option on whether they will marry or not. And the woman just goes along with it. No argument at all.

I think if I were to re-write one of these stories I would make the women a little more strong-willed. Also people don't need to be murdered for every little thing. It is outrageous. Sometimes we don't get what we want. You just move on. 


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