How to Succeed Without Killing the Giant by Kathy Eastman

Molly Whuppie is an interesting mix of folktale motifs.  The story starts much the same as Hansel and Gretel.  Unable to feed their children, the parents decide to leave the three youngest girls in the forest.  Molly Whuppie is the youngest sister and the story’s powerful super hero.  The girls find lodging in a giant’s house, and the story motif next reflects a Jack and the Bean Stalk motif.  As the story progresses, Molly goes on to not only save her sisters from being eaten by the giant, but to outsmart the giant and secure the marriages of her sisters to princes.  After taking care of her sisters, Molly once again outsmarts the giant and secures her marriage to the youngest prince.  Molly isn’t a giant killer; her motives do not reflect greed or reckless feats, but rather a desire to help her sisters. 

Escaping the giant, Molly takes her sisters over the “bridge of one hair," which is probably a reference to passage between the worlds.  However, to secure her sisters and own future, Molly most travel back across the bridge three more times.  The king is willing to marry his sons, but in exchange Molly must secure from the giant objects of power for him.    She embarks on not one hero’s journey, but completes the journey four different times.  Molly is able to take charge of what happens not only to her and her sisters – but also the King and his sons.    By marrying the youngest son, Molly has little chance of becoming a queen.  She is not a giant killing super hero, and money and power were never her objectives.  Yet our youngest hero, Molly Whuppie is able to save a king, his sons and her sisters – all before securing her future.  Spoiler alert – Molly Whuppie never kills the giant! 

The image at the top of the post can be found here.

Comments

[Marilee Lasch]

You always add sooo much to the fairy tales with your telling. Reading this is not near as much fun as listening to you tell it.