I've planned out a few fantasy story ideas, and honestly, having parental figures out of the way is just easier because the characters are less restricted. It's also less horrifying to think about from the other end - you don't have to worry how the parent must be feeling when their kids go through all those things! (Even if it's children's fantasy or fairy tales, where the stakes are relatively low.Especially given that they're only really low because we know nothing terrible is going to happen to them.)
As far as fairy tales specifically go, I think many also originate in a time when parents often were absent, and children found themselves at the mercy of caregivers who didn't necessarily have the best of intentions. Or even if they did, were not able to be as supported as they wanted. I imagine even fathers were at a loss - back then, the mothers did the parenting. A loving father still might have had no idea what to do with a child or several children. Other adults took advantage of orphans or otherwise disadvantaged children when they were supposed to care for them.
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winterfish
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Date: 2019-03-04 12:35 pm (UTC)As far as fairy tales specifically go, I think many also originate in a time when parents often were absent, and children found themselves at the mercy of caregivers who didn't necessarily have the best of intentions. Or even if they did, were not able to be as supported as they wanted. I imagine even fathers were at a loss - back then, the mothers did the parenting. A loving father still might have had no idea what to do with a child or several children. Other adults took advantage of orphans or otherwise disadvantaged children when they were supposed to care for them.