Response to Vegetational Fatherhood

When I first read the Vegetational Fatherhood by Mynona, I was surprised it was considered fairy tale because it is not like the other tales I have read. It is one of the most bizarre and random stories I have read yet. However, upon further consideration, I found many of the fairy tale elements in the story, and characteristics of other fairy tales we have read.

One of my first reactions to the story was that it reminded my of the Virgin Mary, because of the way the woman became pregnant. My second reaction was that some elements of this story reminded me of Snow White. First, the woman has a daughter who is more beautiful than she is, and she becomes more and more beautiful with each day. Second, the daughter's looks are compared to a flower. She has soft, pink skin, green eyes, a rose petal shaped birthmark, and silver glistening hair. In Snow White, the daughter's looks are described in a similar way, as she is said to be white as snow, red as blood, and black as ebony wood. Finally, both Snow White and the daughter in this story attract many suitors as a result of their beauty.

Based on the content of this tale, I thought about its intended audience. I cannot imagine this being read to a child. Perhaps it was written as entertainment and amusement for adults, according to Shavit's concept of childhood.