19th Century Context

Eventual Acceptance of Fairytales

The 21st century loves fairytales. With a quick search online, one can find BuzzFeed Quizzes or rendering of Disney Princesses in different forms. Fairytales caught the imagination of Walt Disney, and many others, myself included. However, when they were first gaining popularity, they had a fair share of critics.

Fairytales were intended to be read by adults as much as children when they were first printed on the mass market. It was when children became the main audience that the critics became much louder. In the beginning of the 18th century, one had to leave England to share fairytales to children without criticism. In England, fairytales were condemned for their imaginative focus, rather than a directly moral influence. Below, users can find a truncated timeline of critics and supporters of fairytales for children. For a more extensive timeline of fairyales, visit SurLaLune's Fairy Tale Timeline.


Early 1800s: Fairytales are not "useful tools in sacred or secular moral education." (Sircar 424)

Early 1800s: German Romantic Philosopher Friedrich Shiller praises fairytales. "Deeper meaning resides in the fairy tales told to me in my childhood than in the truth that is taught by life". Other Romantics believe that while fairytales may not be "morally useful," they are able to "stretch the imagination, which has its own uses." (Sircar 246)

1804-1818: Benjamin Tabart retells fairytales with "exemplary inflections" so they can be morally useful. (Sircar 425)

Mid-19th Century: Fairytales are accepted as "at least not pernicious." (Sircar 426)

1850s: Fairytales are said to have an inherent or natural morality which the inculcate without obvious moralizing. (Sircar 427)

1853: Moral lessons vs fairytales: “One class aims at making us respectable members of society and the other seeks to mold us into thoroughly kind, just, and considerate human beings.” (Sircar 427)

1860: Quarterly Review condemns fairytales and “other such works which are ‘insinuating moral or scientific truths.. so that children are never safe.’” (Sircar 428)

1868: Ruskin defends fairytales, saying they are “not untrue to life, they are not frightening, they are perfect in themselves and should not be retold to add explicit modern moral concerns or information.” (Sircar 428)

19th Century Context