The Truth of the Fairy Tale in Simone Weil

Abstract

In this article, the dialogue between philosophy and literature unfolds through the prism of Simone Weil’s meditation on fairy tales. With their distinctive narrative structures and evocative language, fairy tales transport us into a realm of suspension – one that transcends the coordinates of ordinary space and time, embodying a symbolic and spiritual dimension. Although they recount fantastic events that never happened, fairy tales do not deceive; rather, they convey spiritual truths through symbolic figures and allegorical tableaux. A lover of Grimm’s fairy tales, Simone Weil never considered them works of pure fantasy. In her view, fairy tales held a profound mystical resonance. Far from being simple entertainment for children, they unveil an inner dimension capable of opening the soul to the Good and to God.