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Mahadeo Singh
FIQWS 10105
Professor von Uhl
November 16, 2016
Gender Roles: Myths vs. Fairy tales
The highly anticipated disputes of myths vs fairy tales have been challenged by many
scholars, professionals, and students all across the nation. The differences presented in
Bettelheims The Uses of Enchantment, titled, Fairy Tale versus Myth: Optimism versus
Pessimism portrays the unique structures of a story that pertain to fairy tales or myths.
Bettelheim lays out the differences meticulously, that can establish R.K. Narayans story Devi
even further in parallels of the claims supported by Bettelheim. It has become common today to
dismiss the philosophical or psychological viewpoint (Bettelheim 35) of modern thinkers who
have studied myths and fairy tales. Through the extensive research and analysis, many
prestigious individuals like Plato and Aristotle have all came to a correlative conclusion of the
differences between fairy tales and myths. Narayans indigenous character, Devi from Gods,
Demons, and Others, undoubtedly exemplifies Bettelheims claim of how myths differ from fairy
tales. Devi shows that, gender roles in myths are not confined to be a certain way, but instead it
could be challenged whether is be through incorporating the religious views of society and
challenging gender roles with the use of the plot.
The most basic differences between myths and fairy tales derive from the ideologies of
the character and how they perceive the world. It is extremely important to look at their world in
their shoes. In Devi, Devi is the creator of all things, supernatural in her own fantastical ways.
Prior to the creation of Devi, the other Hindu gods otherwise known as the Big Three: Brahma

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the creator, Vishnu the protector, and Shiva the destroyer (Narayan 52), were destroyed by the
demon Mahisha in one form or another. In order for the world, culture, and religion to be saved,
they called upon the ultimate creator or the great being, by praying intensely to the Highest
Source (Narayan 54). As a result, Grace descended in the form of emanations (Narayan 54),
creating Devi, the ultimate Supreme Being in the world. Bettelheim himself writes, Myths
typically involve superego demands in conflict with id-motivated action, and with the selfpreserving desires of the ego (Bettelheim 37). The Big Three needed help to save their world
and people from the disastrous Mahisha. They demanded intensely by praying, upon the Great
Being to preserve their own desires of their ego. When it comes to the topic of fairy tales, most
of us will readily agree that calling upon the Great Being, Devi, will create a happy ending. A
fairy tale projects the relief of all pressuresbut promises that a happy solution will be formed
(Bettelheim 36). It is true that Devi relieves the pressures of the Big Three. Where this agreement
ends, however, is the question of a happy ending. Whereas some are convinced that since
Mahisha is liberated by every form he took, there was a happy ending. While it may seem as a
happy ending, it is not since Mahisha killed a tremendous amount of lives, there is no happy
ending. Concluding that, Devi is a myth. A myth could not have happened to any other
person, or in any other setting; such events are grandiose, awe-inspiring, and could not possibly
happen to any ordinary mortal like you or me (Bettelheim 37). Furthermore, a myth often deals
with supernatural beings, gods, demigods, and the explanation of natural phenomenon. Stories
that explain religious beliefs are often myths; they explain the cultural and religious views of a
society (Kelly), which is what Devi exemplifies in the story.
The story itself uses the role of Devi and the Big Three, which are the Hindu gods to
incorporate the religious views of society. By praying to the Great Being, it shows the religious

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views of societal norms and religion. More specifically Devi has eighteen arms, representing the
natural phenomenon of a god. The Big Three are all male and Devi is formed from all three male
gods. A woman is created in order to defeat the demon. Gender hierarchies and inequalities are
maintained, among other factors, by meanings and belief systems, and these are in turn generated
through representation (Nogus). Devi is more powerful than the males. In the Hindu culture
and religion, people look up to this powerful and majestic women with eighteen arms.
It cannot go unnoticed that Devi is unlike any other female, challenging gender roles
throughout the story. Her body has eighteen arms, each containing a weapon to defeat the
almighty Mahisha. It is important to consider that in this time period women were not subjected
to have any power of sorts. However, "people in dignity cultures take on role obligations
(Aslani). In this case, Devi took on a role of a supreme being who had her own powers
throughout the story. This Supreme Being (Devi) was created to supply the needs of society and
the Big Three. She was not visible in society prior to her calling. In order to protect society from
Mahisha, Devi was called to protect. Furthermore, Devis face radiated the purest emotions of
joy, anger, wonder, laughter, and compassion (Narayan 55). Simply put, she had emotions just
like humans. She showed compassion for the Big Three and the people that needed her help. It is
specifically shown in the story that Mahisha could not be killed by any human at all. Therefore,
Devi came to life as a Supreme Being; someone who was not a mortal, but something
extraordinary, unexplainable. She defied gender roles because she appeared as a woman, but has
abilities of a man. Many people look up to Devi, as inspiring because, for one, she is a woman
who has the abilities that a mortal woman would not encompass. She shows that women always
wins .Bettelheim himself writes, that fairytales are always presented as ordinary, something that
could happen to you or me or the person next door when out on a walk in the woodsencounters

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are related in casual. This just proves that Devi is inevitably a myth. In the story, the Big Three
just prays intensely and Devi appears out of nowhere. Not only that, but she had emanations
from the face of each of the Big Three. If this was a fairytale, this would not have happened. This
is not ordinary at all. According to Evan Davies, Friedman employed myths to categorize and
delineate the psychodynamic features. In psychodynamics or other widely known as dynamic
psychology, are the forces that are primary human behaviors, feelings, and emotions and how
they relate to prior experiences. Devi is described as this supernatural being that has emotions
and feelings just like humans. She delineates myths because she saw through every form that he
assumed and had a weapon to match each of his wiles (Narayan 62). Mahisha was outmatched
when it came to defeating Devi. She proves this by showing emotion in the end where she killed
Mahisha regardless of his pleas. Devi took into consideration all the lives Mahisha has killed
throughout his lifetime and eventually severed the demons head (Narayan 62). This took a lot
of thought and consideration since she is a goddess, she has acted upon her responsibilities and
virtues of a goddess. Those unfamiliar with this school of thought (myths) may be interested to
know that it basically boils down to the ending a story. Myths is nearly always tragic, while
always happy in fairytales (Bettelheim 37). In Devi, the story is ended tragically with
Mahisha being killed by the goddess. There is a not happy ending. However, one can say there is
a lesson to be gathered from the death of Mahisha. Although the lesson in the story is indirectly
implied in the story, the ending was still tragic. The lesson and morals of the story have nothing
to do with the differences between myths and fairy tales. In fact, all stories generally have a
purpose and lesson behind it.
Bettelheims Fairy Tale versus Myth: Optimism versus Pessimism asserts the claim of
how myth differs from fairy tales admiringly. Without the aspects discussed among various

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scholars and professionals the differences between fairy tales and myths, would just be a myth.
Devi, a majestic goddess who encompasses emotions and behaviors reaffirms that Devi is a
myth, rather than a fairy tale, which coincides with the ideas presented by Bettelheim. Reading
stories about supernatural beings growing up, it is most likely to relate it to a fairy tale. However,
knowing the particular differences between the two, it can better help adequate the information in
order for comprehension. Although Bettelheim may seem of concern to only a small group of
individuals who write and read myths or fairytales, it, in fact concerns anyone who cares about
literature as a whole. These conclusions will have significant importance to the literature world.
This is not to say that other genres of literature dont deserve a meticulous interpretation, but
rather to inform people of the important differences of fairy tales and myths that do not have a
light shined upon when it comes to interpretation.

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Work Cited

Aslani, Soroush, Jimena Ramirez-Marin, Jeanne Brett, Jingjing Yao, Zhaleh SemnaniAzad, Zhi-Xue Zhang, Catherine Tinsley, Laurie Weingart, and Wendi Adair. "Dignity,
Face, and Honor Cultures: A Study of Negotiation Strategy and Outcomes in Three
Cultures." Journal of Organizational Behavior 37.8 (2016): 1178-201. Web.

Bettelheim, Bruno. The Uses of Enchantment: The Meaning and Importance of Fairy
Tales. New York: Vintage, 2010. Print.

Davies, Evan. "Refraining, Metaphors, Myths and Fairy-tales." J Family Therapy Journal
of Family Therapy 10.1 (1988): 83-92. Web. 10 Nov. 2016

Kelly, Debra. "The Difference Between Legends, Myths, And Fairy Tales KnowledgeNuts." KnowledgeNuts. N.p., 23 Dec. 2013. Web. 10 Nov. 2016.

Narayan, R. K. Gods, Demons, and Others. Chicago: U of Chicago, 1993. Print.

Nogus, Sofia. Myths and the Perception of Gender in Culture and Society. N.p., n.d.
Web. 7 Nov. 2016.