REFLECTIONS
Reflections
OF PARABLES AND FAIRY TALES
Teresita Bacani-Oropilla, MD
T
hroughout the ages, children have
been lovingly taught by their elders
with examples, fables, fairy tales
and parables. These fired up the
active imaginations of the former,
who then identified with their brave and beau-
tiful heroines and heroes, and analyzed why
they were so. Rumpelstiltskin evidently had enough confidence in himself to
give the queen an out. If she could guess his name after a certain
time, he would forfeit the bargain. Three times he came back and she
couldn’t guess it. Putting all the abundant resources at her command
however, she sent couriers to the hills and dales, the mountains, and
the deep forests, one of which found Rumpelstiltskin singing his
own name and how he had tricked the queen and anticipated the
prize he would soon collect.
Consider the story of Rumpelstiltskin, a wily, big-nosed dwarf
with magical skills. He offered to spin roomfuls of yellow straw
into spindles of gold thread for a miller’s daughter who had been
ordered by a greedy king to do so. The bargain was that, for this
favor, she would give her future first born to Rumpelstiltskin when
the time came. The time finally came, but then the queen uttered his name.
Rumpelstiltskin, flabbergasted, was so furious that his secret had
been found out, that he had a tantrum. He stomped so hard on the
floor that he fell through it and was swallowed by the earth!
In the land of fairy tales, the greedy king was so pleased that he
made this talented gold spinning lady his queen, expecting to live
an idyllic life ever after. (Most of them do.) But, remember Rum-
pelstiltskin? He reappeared on the scene to claim his due when the
kingdom’s little heir was born. Pay heed, adults! These too apply, especially in these contentious
times!
That’s something to ponder as a child. Beware! Tantrums never
come to a good end.
Dr. Bacani-Oropilla is a retired psychiatrist.
Thus, lessons of greed, craftiness, making important decisions
hastily, and keeping one’s words and promises were taught.
AUGUST 2018
29