"God's Great Cooperator": Motherhood and the Feminine Genius in Selected Fairy Tales

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dc.contributor.advisorGarrett, Greg.
dc.contributor.authorArcher, Emily Claire
dc.contributor.departmentUniversity Scholars.en_US
dc.contributor.otherBaylor University.en_US
dc.contributor.schoolsHonors College.en_US
dc.date.accessioned2017-05-24T23:42:11Z
dc.date.available2017-05-24T23:42:11Z
dc.date.copyright2017
dc.date.issued2017-05-24
dc.description.abstractWithin the past several decades, there has emerged a tendency among literary critics to denigrate fairy tales on the basis of their treatment of female characters. I argue, rather, that many fairy tales are rooted in deep and empowering theological truths about femininity and humanity in general. These truths are visible in some of the more traditional fairy tales – not despite the female characters’ roles, but precisely because of them. In my thesis, I explore ways in which a number of Grimm fairy tales shed light on what Pope John Paul II called “the feminine genius,” specifically as it manifests in motherhood. I consider fairy godmothers, wicked stepmothers, and heroines as different incarnations of the feminine nature. I use these fairy tale characters to illustrate what recent Catholic theologians have written about womanhood; by applying said writings, I also demonstrate how fairy tales can contribute positively to an understanding of motherhood and, more broadly, femininity.en_US
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/2104/9999
dc.language.isoen_USen_US
dc.rightsBaylor University projects are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from this source for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission. Contact libraryquestions@baylor.edu for inquiries about permission.en_US
dc.rights.accessrightsWorldwide accessen_US
dc.subjectFeminine genius.en_US
dc.subjectCatholicism.en_US
dc.subjectWomanhood.en_US
dc.subjectFairy tales.en_US
dc.subjectFeminism.en_US
dc.title"God's Great Cooperator": Motherhood and the Feminine Genius in Selected Fairy Talesen_US
dc.typeThesisen_US

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