Fairy tales address themselves to two communities, each with its own interests and each in periodic conflict with the other: parents and children. Nearly every study of fairy tales has taken the perspective of the parent, constructing the meaning of the tales by using identifying universally valid tenets of moral instruction for children.
For example, the plot of “Hansel and Gretel” is set in motion by hard-hearted parents who abandon their children in the woods, but for psychologist Bruno Bettelheim the tale is really about children who learn to give up their unhealthy dependency on their parents. According to Bettelheim, this story—in which the children family’s support. Thus, says Bettelheim, does the story train its young listeners to become “mature children.”
There are two ways of interpreting a story: one is a “superficial” reading that focuses on the tale’s manifest content, and the other is a “deeper” reading that looks for latent meanings. Many adults who read fairy tales are drawn to this second kind of interpretation in order to avoid facing the and expectations, who, unlike Bettelheim, do not find inflexible tenets of moral instruction in the tales.
Bettelheim interprets all fairy tales as driven by children’s fantasies of desire and revenge, and in doing so suppresses the true nature of parental behavior ranging from abuse to indulgence. Fortunately, these characterizations of selfish children and innocent adults have been discredited to some extent by recent psychoanalytic literature. The need to stand in the service of pragmatic instrumentality rather than foster an unproductive form of playful pleasure.
What this question is testing
Anticipate
This is a Non-Author Opinion question with a twist: the question asks for the view Bettelheim would least agree with. So I need to know what Bettelheim believes, and then look for the answer that pushes against it hardest.
Bettelheim's framework: fairy tales teach children to correct themselves. Kids should give up unhealthy dependence, accept the dangers of their own greed, and become "mature children" who support the family. The whole orientation is parent-centered moral instruction. Children are the ones who need fixing.
Goal
Look for an answer that puts children's own needs and feelings on equal footing with their parents' — that's the direct opposition to Bettelheim's child-corrects-self view. Common traps:
Answers about children's imagination or development that Bettelheim would actually agree with
Answers about children experiencing the world through family dynamics — perfectly compatible with Bettelheim
Answers about feeling secure reducing infantile notions — fits the maturation theme
Reading along? Open the full official question in LawHub — we show a fragment here and keep the reasoning in our own words.