Za tajemstvím pohádek – Bettelheim Bruno (2017)

Why and how to read them in today's world. To this day, the highly regarded work of American psychoanalyst of Austrian origin Bruno Bettelheim has become his book "The Uses of Enchantment." In it, the author argues that it is essential for children to encounter the world of classic fairy tales at an early age. Fairy tales allow the contents of a child's unconscious to materialize in conscious fantasies, through which the child learns to cope with the difficulties of life and gradually find meaning in it. The hero, who is often someone who initially appears foolish or defenseless, symbolizes the immature self that struggles for happiness, while the opponent, who ultimately receives the punishment he deserves, represents the evil impulses with which the child learns to deal. Therefore, it is acceptable for classic fairy tales to sometimes be cruel, but the story that benefits the child should also end well, thus giving the child hope. The second part of the book provides analysis and interpretation of many fairy tales, such as Hansel and Gretel, Snow White, Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood, and Goldilocks and the Three Bears. The author uses classic psychoanalytic terminology in his treatise, but his text is readable and understandable. Afterword by Lucie Lucká.