Poor Jack, Climbs a Beanstalk, Comes Down a Thief and Killer

Get ready for a Fairytale Forensics deep dive into Jack and the Beanstalk, but, not the version you heard as a kid. Jack, although traditionally portrayed as a naive and unfortunate child, demonstrates a surprising level of cunning and even ruthlessness in his interactions with the Giant and his wife. Jack as the Anti-Hero. 

Transcript

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Okay, so ready for a deep dive into Jack and the Beanstalk, but, uh, not the version you heard as a kid. We're talking fairy tale forensics today, folks. They do exactly what the title suggests. Analyzing classic tales to uncover the deeper meanings and, Let's just say not so child friendly implications hidden beneath the surface. And a fascinating approach to these stories that, let's be honest, we often dismiss as, well, just for children. Yeah, those fairy tales, they seem simple on the surface, right? But there's a lot more going on when you start to, well, think about them like a crime scene literally, like a detective looking for clues. which is so key when you're trying to unpack the deeper themes and get beyond simple good versus evil interpretations, right? Okay, so we're diving into Jack and the Beanstalk And you know, we all know the story, Who doesn't know that story, right? Yeah. Jack, the magic beans, the giant.

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Fee fah fah fum, I smell the blood of an Englishman.

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Okay, so the story starts off pretty standard, right? We've got young Jack living with his widowed mother and things are, well, let's just say they're not going great. Struggling to make ends meet, as they say. Their cow, Milky White, has stopped giving milk. And they need money. Yesterday. Classic fairy tale setup. Exactly. Yeah. The cows stop giving milk and suddenly they're in dire straits. But, um, One thing this analysis pointed out that I'd never even considered before, like, why did they have a backup plan for this? Cows can't just produce milk forever. It's like Farming 101, you know, It wasn't a sudden thing either. It was probably a slow, agonizing decline for them. Imagine watching your livelihood disappear. Knowing. Knowing there's nothing to fall back on. No safety net back then. Exactly.

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The mother basically sends Jack off with this valuable cow zero guidance, like no plan whatsoever. It's like throwing him to the wolves. The thing's dried up, she's desperate. no guidance on a price. You'd think she'd at least, I don't know, give him some pointers on, like, negotiating. Right. Get a fair price for that cow, son! But no, it's more like, good luck out there. It really makes you wonder about the mom's decision making skills Especially when you think about the situation, right? You've got this single mother, she's clearly struggling. I mean, they're desperate for money, and she's trusting a kid to handle this important sale. Maybe she wasn't thinking straight. Maybe she even thought, you know, send my innocent kid, maybe he'll get a better deal. Yeah. It's a stretch, but it's easy to judge her, but what choice did she have? It shows just how few options people had back then. Imagine having to tell your kid, get whatever you can for it. Just come back with something. Please. Yeah. You know, It suggests a world where children are almost expendable, you know? Especially if they're not seen as useful. Sending a kid to go and negotiate a car deal with zero research, zero guidance. You just know they're going to get ripped off. It creates this situation where Jack is practically guaranteed to fail. Like, what a child thinks is a good price, and what some experienced trader thinks is a good price, Totally different ballpark. He's basically set up to be exploited So Jack's trudging along, feeling probably pretty hopeless, when who should appear but our good friend, the old man. The mysterious old man, ready to trade some magic beans for a Pastor Prime cow. He always gave me the creeps, even as a kid. Like way too eager to strike a deal. Oh, absolutely. He just like appears almost as soon as Jack sits down. Talk about suspicious timing. Yeah, it's like he was like, Watching and waiting for the perfect moment to swoop in and swoop in. He does with his, shall we say unique offer? I mean, magic beans in exchange for a cow that can't even produce milk. I'm not sure what's more far fetched the beans themselves or the fact that Jack falls for it. And he doesn't even check out Milky White first, like any normal buyer would, right? The old man is shady from the start. He doesn't even ask the usual questions, right? Like, how old's the cow? Is she healthy? Any problems we should know about? Nope. He just wants to make that trade. Fast. Makes you wonder what his angle was. Was he really trying to help Jack or was there something more going on? Hold on, you're saying this whole beanstalk thing? This might not have been the first time, like a regular occurrence. I mean, come on, who buys a cow with beans? And that's exactly what the analysis wants us to think about. It pushes us to ask the questions Jack doesn't. Why is this guy lurking around? Why beans? If they're so magical, why not use them himself? Wow. I never thought of it like that. It's almost like he's playing on Jack's innocence. Knowing a kid won't. Won't even think to ask those questions. Exactly. Suddenly this guy shows up with what seems like a solution no matter how crazy. Jack's in over his head. You can see how tempting it would be for Jack to just jump at it. It's like, he just wants to make his mom happy so badly, you know? Or maybe prove that he can fix this whole mess. And that makes him willing to take a risk, even a big one. Exactly. He's not thinking straight, not really. He's just reacting. It's like he's already at a disadvantage before he even meets the old man. It changes the whole dynamic, right? This isn't just a simple trade anymore. And unfortunately, that kind of sets the stage, morally, how the whole story plays out Okay. But here's the question. Was Jack actually tricked or was he just like incredibly naive I mean, come on Magic Beans. And that's the brilliance of it. Fairytale Forensics argues that it almost doesn't matter if Jack's naivete is genuine or just a plot device. The point is, it highlights the power imbalance at play here. Between a kid who's, let's face it, in way over his head. Mm hmm. And the adult who should Probably no better. Exactly who's manipulating whom? Totally. So Jack races home, probably expecting a hero's welcome. Right. Instead, his mom is like, what have you done? Can you imagine? Their one means of survival traded for a handful of beans. I know. It's a very real depiction of the desperation of poverty and how even a small setback can feel insurmountable. Absolutely. And poor Jack, sent to bed probably starving after just crushing his mom's hopes. Yeah. What a day. Little does he know things are about to get a whole lot stranger. So Jack's sent to bed on an empty stomach after a seriously rough day. Can you imagine what's going through his head? I'd be having some seriously strange dreams after a day like that. Right. But in Jack's case, the weirdness isn't confined to dreams. He wakes up and BAM! There's this massive beanstalk outside his window. And get this, Jack doesn't even think twice. He's exhausted, starving even, but he starts climbing. Jack doesn't hesitate at all, does he? No fear, no questions. And that Beanstalk, I mean talk about a fairytale image, right? This massive plant shooting up into the clouds. You'd think Jack would at least pause, take a look around. You'd think. But no, this kid, he just starts climbing like it's nothing. He's an impulsive one, our Jack. Doesn't think things through. He has to see what's at the top. Maybe he's thinking, hey, it can't get any worse than this. Yeah. But it's also about taking control, right? It's like this huge screw you to the world, to his situation. Like, you think you can keep me down, I'll just climb this beanstalk and see what's up here. It's that classic fairy tale trope, isn't it? The hero, or in this case maybe the anti hero, venturing into the unknown. And speaking of things that seem impossible, can we just talk about the beanstalk for a second? I mean, a plant growing that high, that fast, it seems a little far fetched even for a fairy tale. How did those beans work so fast? Like, what if those magic beans What if they were actually genetically engineered? No way. Maybe we shouldn't be so quick to dismiss it as pure fantasy, especially with all the advancements in biotechnology these days. Who knows what we'll be capable of in the future, right? Imagine if we could engineer plants to grow that fast, those kinds of structures. Sustainable building materials. Instant shelters. Entire farms all growing from a seed. That's pretty amazing Where does that beanstalk lead to a world that's even more exaggerated, even more fantastical than those magic beans? We're talking, of course, about the Giant's Palace. Ah, yes. okay, so Jack finally reaches the top and stumbles upon this incredible palace. And Fairytale Forensics does a brilliant job of describing the contrast here. You have Jack's world, impoverished, desperate, and then boom, you're thrust into this Opulent, excessive, almost grotesque world of the giant. Talk about sensory overload. I mean, the story really lays it on thick. The smell of roasting meat, jewels scattered everywhere. A stark reminder of everything Jack and his mother lack. The first thing he notices isn't the gold and the jewels. It's the smell of food. Again, reminding us of Jack's most basic needs. He's not on some grand adventure, he's just trying to survive. Totally. He's hit with this amazing smell. Which, let's be honest. Torture for a kid who hasn't eaten The worst. It's gotta be a lot for a kid to process. That's a really good point. It's no wonder he acts the way he does, right? Totally. But here's the thing. When Jack climbs that beanstalk this is trespassing and let's just say the legal situation gets murky. This is getting kind of dark. I like it. And we're just getting started. So we've got Jack up in the Giants house already breaking a few laws And then he meets the giant's wife. And instead of offering him some of that delicious smelling food, Yeah. She's like, my husband will eat you for breakfast. husband will eat you for breakfast. I mean, can you imagine? Talk about a bad first impression. It's almost comical, but, uh, fairy tale forensics doesn't let us forget what that really means. Cannibalism. We're talking about a giant who eats people. Not exactly a lighthearted detail. And that's where the whole good versus evil thing gets complicated. We've got Jack, he's the protagonist, we're rooting for him. And then the giant, he's this big scary monster. At least on the surface. Yes. True. But the giant's wife. really makes you think about her role in all this. We need a deep dive on her backstory she's a really interesting character that doesn't get talked about enough. Totally. She's the one helping Jack, hiding him from her husband, she becomes Jack's protector. Immediately. Even though he's literally what her husband supposedly hates most. Wow. Yeah. is she like going along with her husband's whole deal? Or is she a prisoner too, in a way? And is she helping Jack out of the goodness of her heart? Or is she trying to, like, manipulate the situation? she disrupts the traditional power dynamic. She's not simply a subservient wife following her husband's orders. She's making her own choices. So many questions. And the story doesn't really give us answers, does it? It really makes you wonder what's going on in her head. Guilt, maybe? Pity? Or just, like, pure terror about what her husband will do if he finds Jack. She must be terrified. I mean, we're talking about a giant here. Makes you wonder about her life before all this, before Jack. What kind of person ends up married to a man eating giant? Yikes. That's the real mystery here. Is she a victim herself, or is she complicit in his odd appetite? Right. It's like, what's her deal? But before we can go down that rabbit hole, the giant is back Fee fi fo fum bellowing about, smelling the blood of an Englishman. Classic. Talk about a dramatic entrance. Right. it's a scene that always sends chills down my spine. Fee fah fah fum, I smell the blood of an Englishman. Ha! Still gives me chills. Right. It's like, where does that even come from? Maybe it's not magic, maybe it's a biological thing. Like, giants evolved to have super smell or something. Kind of wild when you think about it. Mind blowing. the giant doesn't just smell blood. He specifically says the blood of an Englishman. Fee fi fo fum smell the blood of an Englishman. It's kind of creepy, right? Like, as a kid, you'd just kind of sing along, but now Yeah, it definitely adds a dark edge to the giant, but it raises questions, too. Like, what does that even mean, smell the blood of an Englishman? It's specific. Is it literal? Metaphorical? Does it, like, hint at some history there? Between giants and Englishmen? Some kind of deep seated grudge against the English? But when you really think about it, there are some logistical questions. How can he smell blood from so far away? And why Englishmen in particular? It's like he's got a sixth sense for them, and it makes you wonder about his past. Like, is there a history of Englishmen wronging this giant? Oh, I like where you're going with this. It has a whole other layer of complexity, right? Maybe the giant isn't just some one dimensional monster. Maybe he has his reasons. Exactly. He becomes a much more interesting character with a little backstory, don't you think? A hundred percent. What if the giant was wary of humans for a reason? What if he'd been tricked before? It makes you rethink those stories we tell about good guys and bad guys. We're told the giant's dangerous, right? Fee fi fo fum and all that. But Jack's not exactly an angel, is he? Not really definitely makes you think twice about whose story is being told. It reminds us that fairy tales, they're not always so black and white. So true, but okay back to Jack Picture this. Jack's crammed into this oven, right? And this giant, who can sniff out an Englishman from a mile away, is pacing around the kitchen. The tension is unbearable. Talk about a pressure cooker. And as if things couldn't get any tenser, the giant's wife walks in. You can tell she's torn. She knows her husband is about to gobble up this kid, but she still tries to cover for him. That's some serious internal conflict right there. Right? She's stuck in the middle of all this, helping Jack, hiding him from her husband, and yet, She's married to this giant. A giant who apparently has a taste for Englishmen. Her character is really intriguing. Is she motivated by fear? Compassion? Or is there something else going on there? okay, but anyway, back to the action. The giant sits down to a breakfast of bacon and eggs. It's so oddly normal. I know, right? You'd think a giant would have a more impressive appetite. Totally. But I guess even giants need their protein. I suppose. The giant finishes up his breakfast, pulls out a sack of gold, and starts counting. I'd be making a run for it the second his back was turned. Right. But not our Jack. He's got other plans. Oh yeah, Jack's not just gonna run away empty handed. He sees an opportunity and he takes it, swiping that giant's gold and hightailing it out of there. It takes guts, I'll give him that. He's definitely got a bit of a daredevil streak in him. Totally. And he raises back home, pockets full of gold, shouting, We're rich! We're rich! But we all know how this goes, right? Easy come, easy go. Exactly. It doesn't take long for them to blow through all that gold. Soon enough, they're back to square one. It makes you wonder if Jack learned anything from that first trip. It's like this cycle he can't break out of. It really is. And what does he do? He climbs right back up that beanstalk. He just can't resist the temptation, can he? It's like that beanstalk represents this unattainable promise of wealth and escape. That's a really interesting way to look at it. Like, the beanstalk itself is a symbol for this desire for something more. I mean, he climbs that beanstalk again and again, even though he knows it's risky. He knows what's up there, he knows the risks, and he still goes back for more. This time around, the giant's wife is not too thrilled to see him. Can you blame her? I mean, the last time he was there, he robbed them blind. She tries to help him and how does he repay her? By stealing from her again. At this point, it's hard to see him as just a naive kid, you know? I agree. And the way Fairytale Forensics describes her reaction when she sees him that second time, it's heartbreaking Even though she knows he's a thief, you She hesitates to expose him. she uses really passive language when questioning him. Like, she almost doesn't want to believe it's him. It's like a part of her still sees him as this scared, hungry kid who's stumbled into their home. Yeah. It's like she's Torn between wanting to protect him and wanting to protect her own family a tough spot to be in for sure Tell me about it And as if on cue just when things couldn't get any tenser guess who walks in the door Oh, no, don't tell me it's the giant again and of course Jack scrambles back into the oven just in the nick of time because the giant is immediately like Fee fi fo fum I smell the blood this time, the giant doesn't bring out a sack of gold. He pulls out a hen. But not just any hen. This one lays golden eggs. Finally. The iconic element of the story. I was wondering when that was going to show up. I know, right? And for Jack, it must seem like his lucky break. even though it seems small Yeah, it actually says a lot about the power dynamic here this giant. He's got unimaginable wealth just like Appearing whenever he wants. He doesn't even need to eat Jack Right. But of course, Jack being Jack, he steals the hen too, right? The harp too. Oh yeah, some versions have Jack trying to steal a magic harp. Makes you wonder about his motives. Is he brave or greedy or just, I don't know, kind of a reckless kid? I mean, he's the one who decides to trade the cow for the beans, right? He chooses to climb that beanstalk, then he steals the gold, and then he goes back for more. Exactly. And each time he climbs that beanstalk, the stakes get higher. They need the money. But there's also this, like, Growing sense of daring in Jack, maybe even a little cunning. suddenly, Jack's the one turning the tables. It's that ambiguity that makes this so interesting. It's so thought provoking, you know? Like, what happens when you strip away the enchantment and you're left with just pure greed? Because, let's be honest, Jack's not exactly motivated by noble intentions at this point. Exactly. And that's what makes his final act even more brutal. let's talk about the ending. It's intense. He steals the hen, and then, just as the giant's catching on, Jack chops down the beanstalk, sending the giant plummeting to his death. And with that, it's over. Jack and his mother are apparently set for life. But there's this underlying darkness to their victory, you know? Definitely. It leaves you wondering at what cost. Exactly. And that's what makes this story so much more than just a simple fairy tale. It's got layers. It really does. Jack chops down the beanstalk, Giant falls to his doom. Pretty straightforward, right? Seems like it, yeah. At least that's how most people remember it. The story just sort of ends. It does. It's like, and then Jack and his mom lived happily ever after. The end. But wait, Did Jack just kill a giant? Right. Is he a hero or a, well, something else entirely? Technically speaking, even with the threat of being eaten, breaking and entering is still a crime. Okay. True. Stealing from a giant is still stealing. You'd think so, right? Right. But Jack's little adventure could be seen as breaking and entering. Theft, even property damage. Once he chops down that beanstalk. Trespassing, maybe even manslaughter, Because if we're looking at this through a strictly legal lens Well, that giant didn't just trip and fall, did he? Definitely not a workplace accident. Yeah. It makes you think twice about who the real victim is here. Okay. Yeah. This isn't just a cute story about a boy in his beans anymore. Like, we all root for Jack, right? He's the hero. Supposedly. Right. Fairy tale forensics makes you wonder, what if Jack's not so innocent after all? It's all about challenging assumptions. It's like the story ends, but all these questions just hang there. It's worth thinking about what that final act really means. He's not just escaping the Giant. He's destroying the connection between their two worlds. So, on the one hand, you could say he's protecting himself, right, and his mom. No more surprise visits from hungry giants. Exactly. But he's also destroying something, right? That beanstalk, that connection. What if it could have led to something else? Some kind of understanding between humans and giants. And he's cutting himself off from this whole other world. A world of magic and, yeah, danger, but also incredible wealth and opportunity. It makes you wonder, is there any regret there? The story doesn't really say. And that takes us back to the old man and his whole Scheme, for lack of a better word. Boom right when Jack's at his lowest point who shows up the old man With his magic beans better than money. He says yeah sounds a little Infomercially to me don't you think? Oh, absolutely. The way he plays on Jack's desperation promises him the moon. Makes you think, did the old man know about the giant? Did he plan this whole thing? Suddenly he's not just some random dude with beans. He's like the mastermind. Right. And that changes everything. What's his end game here? What does he want? If this is all some kind of recurring setup, then the Giant's wife, she could be a key player. Okay, now my head is spinning. Are you thinking what I'm thinking? Like, what if they're in cahoots, the wife and the old man, luring in greedy climbers like Jack, but why? What does the Giant get out of it? I wish we could just, like, put these characters on trial and find out. Hypothetically, if this was a regular thing and the giant knew about it, was profiting from it, legally speaking, that could make him an accomplice. Wait, so even though Jack's the one climbing the beanstalk, stealing all the stuff, you're saying the giant might be guilty too? Potentially, And if the old man is the one orchestrating everything, knowing it's going to lead to theft, maybe even violence, well, he could be liable too. This is blowing my mind. We started with a fairy tale, and now we're talking about conspiracies and legal loopholes. It's wild, right? But we're looking at it all through a modern lens, like imagine trying to apply today's laws about property and stuff to a story from who knows how long ago. It's amazing how these stories we think we know can still surprise us. And that's the thing about these old stories, isn't it? They leave you with these questions, these what ifs that stick with you. We think it's a simple fairy tale, but then we see these glimpses of our own choices, our own dilemmas, reflected back at us. It makes you wonder, right? If a beanstalk just sprouted up outside your window tomorrow. Would you climb it? Knowing what we know now, I mean. Would you risk facing something that powerful? Something that might not have your best interests at heart? Or would you play it safe? Even if it meant staying in a world that felt, well, a little smaller. That's a question each of us has to answer for ourselves, I guess. But I have a feeling, after this little deep dive, we might all look at Jack and the Beanstalk a bit differently. Yeah, sometimes all it takes is a fresh perspective to see these old stories in a whole new light. And that's the beauty of a good deep dive, isn't it? We start with the children's story. And end up talking about morality, power, even a little bit of biotechnology. Well, that's it for our deep dive on Jack and the Beanstalk. What other classic tales should we unpack? Let us know. Until next time, keep it curious, folks