The Uses of Enchantment

In this book, Bruno Bettelheim analyzes fairy tales through the lens of Freudian psychoanalysis.

He argues that these stories, despite their violent and fantastical content, are crucial for helping children navigate their inner lives, cope with emotional and psychological challenges, and achieve developmental milestones.

Bettelheim contends that fairy tales address issues such as separation anxiety, oedipal conflict, and sibling rivalries, providing children with a safe and symbolic way to process these complex emotions.

The book is divided into two main sections, one outlining the value of fairy tales and the other presenting detailed psychoanalytical readings of several well-known fairy tales.