Sounds of Myths

 But we were talking about my thoughts when faced with these two ‘showies’. These ‘carnival type’ characters. The inhabitants of that special sidebar of a social group, involved, but separate to our society. Who possessed not only a certain mystery, but also a certain fearful ‘characterisation’ and reputation. These were the sort, who, if they suggested they could make you disappear, then they probably could. And then, they would move on. The aura of the ‘gypsy’ emanated from these people. Even then my instincts were fairly good (So was my imagination).  I was very scared as I stood, quaking before them, as they decided what to do with me. And in my head ran, at a thousand miles an hour, stories. Stories which we had heard and read at home. In the safety of our home. Which instilled fear in the listeners. I’m not referring to intentional horror or ghost stories. They are meant to frighten (and often don’t). Sometimes, the teller tries to hard. A bit like many of the horror films of today. There is no terror, as they show you every detail. When it was left to the imagination, you tended to imagine the worst. I was then. I was certainly imagining the worst that these two ‘showies’ could do to me.

We had, in our house, grown up with the wonderful fairy stories, legends, myths and tales. Influenced heavily by the European concepts. I myself, as I grew older, also certainly came to appreciate the many local legends of the Maori people of New Zealand (my country of birth and… one of the most beautiful countries on the face of the earth). But, it was the traditionally introduced themes of the European cultures, which formed the foundations and basis for many of the fear-instilling stories we faced as children. Trust me. The fairy tales are not the happy charming ‘Golden Books’ (I’m sure most will remember these little hardboard books which were an introduction to reading for many of us). These charming books you may have started with as a child, hid the true depth of mythology and concepts contained in what may seemingly be a delightful tale, but were usually introducing a much darker message.

Snow White was never a happy singing princess cleaning house in the forest while birds twittered and flittered to her fingers. Think about it. A woman, originally holding a prominent position in society, having run away from a fearful domestic situation, finds a strange refuge under the protection of a secluded group of men, who produce material for trade, with that same society from which they are excluded. The woman is sought out and eventually murdered (yes, I know she falls asleep because of the apple idea) but the one seeking her out is set on murder. These are pretty heavy themes to thrust upon the minds of children. Fear, Segregation. Isolation. Domestic Violence. Murder. And all dressed up in a simple ‘fairy tale’? What were they really trying to tell we children?

(definitely continued tomorrow)