Fairy Tale Spotlight: Happily Ever After?

If ever you have read a good number of Grimm stories, you get used to seeing the phrase "...and they lived happily ever after." This seems like a good ending on the surface, but I'm not too sure. First off, lemme tell you how they usually get there.

The happy ending usually comes after a hero does something great and ends up with a wife. Likewise a woman can do something great and wind up with a husband. Either way, basic heroism seems to lead to a happy life forever more. Otherwise stated; Happily Ever After.

This is where the story ends. We see that it ended well and move on. We want to know if any other heroes and heroins have a similar ending. Some don't always. Sleeping Beauty's ending was rather rocky before the happy ending could be obtained. But most stories simply allow for for the overcoming of one trial before "happily ever after" can be obtained.

The question is this: What is Happily Ever After? What does it mean? What does it involve? Let's take a moment to think on the matter.

The first thing most people think is very much akin to retirement. The two lovers live peacefully in the castle, have children, and when the king dies, they take over as the high rulers of the kingdom. They will eventually die, and their kids will do likewise. No more real adversity will occur. The trials the heroes faced in the beginning of the story were all that were needed to be completed to obtain a world of perfect order--at least in their part of the world. Happily Ever After simply means a good, peaceful, uneventful life until death takes them away.

This is not that far fetched. Some Grimm stories will out rightly explain this concept at the tail end. In brief, they mention about the peaceful life, and the king's death, and their life-long peaceful rule before their own demise. There are no wars or crime. Everybody loves them. For so long as they two remain alive, the world will work perfectly. Most other stories leave the meaning to your imagination.

My problem with this version is that it seems a bit boring. I am happy that the couple fell in love and was married, but then their life rather took the path that so many have taken. Retirement is not really all that exciting. It was never meant to be. Heroism is much more interesting when it begins and never actually ends.

Another concept for Happily Ever After would be a life full of adventures. The bond formed between male and female can still thrive here. In fact, it can even promote it. Adversity can still occur, but now the hero is better prepared for it. It may even be exciting for them! In this case the story does not actually end, but it is still a "happily ever after."

I think my main beef with these endings is that I don't want the story to end in such a boring way. The human race can do a lot of wonderful things, especially our heroes. Why should they be limited to one great act? Let them do as many things as they can! Let heroes be heroes and remain heroes forever. Their story doesn't have to end so abruptly. Let me know what you think on the matter. I'm curious to hear what others think on this phenomenon.

Thank you for reading my blog! Did you enjoy it? Either way, you can comment below, or you can email me at tkwadeauthor@gmail.com. You can also visit my website at www.tkwade.com. Thanks!

Image taken from Disney's "Robin Hood."