How we cite our quotes: (Tale.Page)
Quote #1
Now it happened that a prince came to the forest one day, and when he arrived at the dwarfs' cottage, he decided to spend the night. Then he went to the mountain and saw the coffin with beautiful Snow White inside. […] he said to the dwarfs, "Let me have the coffin, and I'll pay whatever you want." (Snow White.188)
We're not sure which is more disturbing, the fact that he's basically trying to buy a bride, or the fact that he's attracted to a dead chick. Still, let's roll with it.
Quote #2
The king then went over to the tree and saw the beautiful princess with the gold star on her forehead. He was so enraptured by her beauty that he called up to her and asked her if she would be his wife. She did not respond but nodded a little with her head. (The Twelve Brothers.35)
Because marrying someone you just met who can't even give verbal consent is awesome. Oh wait, that's not right.
Quote #3
So the king sent a message to the other bride telling her to return to her own kingdom, for he already had a wife, and whoever finds his old key does not need a new one. (The Twelve Huntsmen.246)
You know, since wives are just like keys. At least the tale ended in marriage for someone.
Quote #4
Then the king said, "You've saved the castle and shall marry my daughter." (A Tale About the Boy Who Went Forth to Learn What Fear Was.18)
You saved us! Here, have a princess.
Quote #5
What!" said the wife. "I'm king, and you're just my husband. I want you to go there at once! And I mean, at once! If he can make a king, he can also make an emperor! Go to there at once!" (The Fisherman and His Wife.70)
Wives are such nags. Why doesn't she give her poor husband (and the wish-granting flounder) a rest already? Okay okay, in all seriousness: what do you think is the point of depicting unhappy marriages in fairy tales?
Quote #6
The king had a daughter who was very beautiful but also very strange, for she had made a vow that she would accept as her lord and master only a man who would let himself be buried alive with her if she should die first. (The Three Snake Leaves.59)
Yeah, strange is one word for it. Aside from the fact that this girl has clearly lost her marbles, this quotes yet another example of the emphasis on marriage as a contract in these tales.
Quote #7
"Could you tell me whether my bridegroom is here?" asked the bride. "Oh, you poor child!" the old woman answered. "Do you realize where you are? This is a murderers' den! You think you're a bride soon to be celebrating your wedding, but the only marriage you'll celebrate will be with death." (The Robber Bridegroom.143)
Because marriage is a safe and sacred institution, which nobody ever uses as an excuse to abuse people. Oh, and next time, filter out "cannibalism" on your online dating preferences, okay?
Quote #8
Just then the two sisters came in all dressed up in their best gowns, and when they saw that the handsome young man had chosen the youngest sister and had turned out to be Bearskin, they ran outside in rage and anger. One drowned herself in a well, the other hanged herself from a tree. (Bearskin.343)
Marriage drama – from before reality TV, even. This quote also reinforces the idea that every woman's life goal should be to marry, and the richer the spouse, the better.
Quote #9
So the marriage was celebrated, but the king's daughter was disturbed because her husband was a commoner who wore a shabby hat and an old knapsack on his back. She wanted very much to get rid of him and was constantly thinking of ways to do it. (The Knapsack, the Hat, and the Horn.192)
This is why royalty should only ever marry royalty. Duh. Yet another example of fairy tales reinforcing social stereotypes.