“Rumpelstiltskin” is a
German tale with, as Gail de Vos and Anne E. Altmann, authors of New Tales for Old: Folktales as
Literary Fictions for Young Adults, aptly stated, “one that seems to have
no redeeming characters at all!” The characters are liars, boasters, betrayers,
misogynous miscreants, and suspected murderers. No one likes these people, yet
this story has endured since the 1700s. Interestingly, as the years
passed, and changes were made, those changes were more violent and the players
uglier. The likeability quotient fell even lower, if possible; however, the
story endured.
“Rumpelstiltskin” has
many spin-offs: variants, poems, movies, and songs. Opinions about the meaning
of the characters, symbols, and actions are numerous and widely varied. They
range from “Rumpy” being a male body part to female envy to social climbing of
a shunned indigenous outcast. In all of them, “Rumpy” is the ugly, physically
twisted, and short bad guy. However, as I read the tale, I was reminded of Silas Marner by George Eliot.
Silas was falsely
accused of theft, which twisted him emotionally; he was greedy, hoarded gold,
and was isolated. However, when he became the parent of an orphaned girl, she
became his “gold,” his acceptance to local society, and eliminator of his loneliness.
“Rumpy” is no different. I suspect he got a bad rap, which left him twisted. He
probably had a huge stash of gold because he could spin his own, and he was
lonely. When the messenger saw him dancing by the fire, he was dancing alone-no
friends. He lived far away from the local social scene. Although he, by no
means, was right, he was not being cruel by wanting the child. I think he
feared bad parenting skills were in the making—the father was not a good role
model. I think Rumpy was like Silas; he just wanted acceptance, unconditional
love, and an end to his loneliness.
I rest my case.
The image at the top of the page can be found here: http://christmassocks.deviantart.com/art/Rumpelstiltskin-totc-project-89572358
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