Fairy Quote by Gregory Maguire
““The fairytale belongs to the poor. I know of no fairytale which upholds the tyrant or takes the part of the strong against the weak. A fascist fairytale is an absurdity.””
About This Quote
Source Book: Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West by Gregory Maguire, 1995
Fairytales traditionally empower the marginalized and critique power; supporting oppressors is contradictory and absurd.
In simple terms: Fairytales help the poor, not tyrants.
Key Takeaway
Champion stories that uplift the vulnerable.
Themes
justice
power
storytelling
marginalization
politics
Mood
reflective
critical
hopeful
Type
philosophical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- education
- activism
- literary analysis
- community organizing
Key Concepts
mythic narrative
social critique
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you recognize and challenge oppressive narratives?
- What role can storytelling play in social change?
A Different Perspective
Fairytales can also reinforce harmful stereotypes if not critically examined.
![“[Professor Greene's] reaction to GAMAY, as published in the Yale Daily News, fairly took one's breath away. He fondled the word "fascist" as though he had come up with a Dead Sea Scroll vouchsafing the key word to the understanding of God and Man at Yale. In a few sentences he used the term…” quote by William F. Buckley Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/709/william-f-buckley-jr-2-34056_daily-news_professor-greene-s-reaction-to-gamay-as_200893.jpg)
