Fairy Tale and Curiosity
Curiosity Killed the Cat
The expression, “curiosity killed the cat” is demonstrated countless times throughout many different stories. The simple answer to save the cat’s life is to stop being curious. However, that is easier said than done. Curiosity proves to be a common behavior present in individuals of all ages. This inherent emotion is the need to scrutinize, discover and learn on a further level. However, curiosity often has a negative connotation because it is extremely powerful and is capable of controlling one’s actions. Many individuals are unable to resist the desire to learn more, despite prior warnings. The internal motivation of curiosity causes irrational actions, often leading to horrific results. The theme of advisory against curiosity is seen in Edith Hamilton’s 1942 Mythology in the myths of How the World and Mankind Were Created and in Cupid and Psych. In the legend of How the World and Mankind Were Created, an attractive young lady named Pandora proves to be too curious to heed the warnings of the gods and goddess. Similarly, in the tale of Cupid and Psych, the beautiful Psych fails to overcome her curiosity in two insistences. Finally, in The Grimm Brother’s 1944 Fairy Tale The Blue beard, the man with the blue beard gave his wife clear instructions to specifically not go into one room. She too proves to succumb to the burning desire to know what is behind the closed door. In the myth, How the World and Mankind Were Created, Pandora, like many women in fairy tales is extremely curious. She was placed on Earth by Zeus without the ability to control her inquiring mind. “…the source of all misfortune was not her wicked nature, but only her curiosity.” (Hamilton 74). When she was presented with something as simple as a box, a straightforward command not to open it sparked an intense, burning curiosity to know what was inside. Pandora was unable to manage this powerful interest. Any rational person would obey direct orders from gods, but in
The expression, “curiosity killed the cat” is demonstrated countless times throughout many different stories. The simple answer to save the cat’s life is to stop being curious. However, that is easier said than done. Curiosity proves to be a common behavior present in individuals of all ages. This inherent emotion is the need to scrutinize, discover and learn on a further level. However, curiosity often has a negative connotation because it is extremely powerful and is capable of controlling one’s actions. Many individuals are unable to resist the desire to learn more, despite prior warnings. The internal motivation of curiosity causes irrational actions, often leading to horrific results. The theme of advisory against curiosity is seen in Edith Hamilton’s 1942 Mythology in the myths of How the World and Mankind Were Created and in Cupid and Psych. In the legend of How the World and Mankind Were Created, an attractive young lady named Pandora proves to be too curious to heed the warnings of the gods and goddess. Similarly, in the tale of Cupid and Psych, the beautiful Psych fails to overcome her curiosity in two insistences. Finally, in The Grimm Brother’s 1944 Fairy Tale The Blue beard, the man with the blue beard gave his wife clear instructions to specifically not go into one room. She too proves to succumb to the burning desire to know what is behind the closed door. In the myth, How the World and Mankind Were Created, Pandora, like many women in fairy tales is extremely curious. She was placed on Earth by Zeus without the ability to control her inquiring mind. “…the source of all misfortune was not her wicked nature, but only her curiosity.” (Hamilton 74). When she was presented with something as simple as a box, a straightforward command not to open it sparked an intense, burning curiosity to know what was inside. Pandora was unable to manage this powerful interest. Any rational person would obey direct orders from gods, but in