Fairy tales were primarily meant for adults, not for children.

The History of Little Goody Two Shoes speaks to me because I admire the character of Margery Meanwell, otherwise known as Goody Two Shoes. Margery’s duty was to do good for evil. She was a poor, raggedy child with one shoe. She and her brother were sent for by a worthy clergyman when they were left to the world. While in his care, a Gentleman on a visit ordered her a pair of shoes. Margery attributed the clergyman’s goodness and wisdom to his great learning, so she learned to read and taught those more ignorant than herself. She did this by carving sets of letters from wood and using them as teaching tools. For example, she tried to subdue a proud and obstinate girl’s stubborn heart by laying down reading lessons on humility and meekness. These teachings of kindness had a good effect on her. Margery’s fame spread abroad, and she received public thanks for her rendered services.

In grade school, I was called a Goody Two Shoes by a friend when I would not participate in an activity that I was not comfortable with. The name-calling was meant to be a put down, and I suffered ridicule for making a good decision. A few years prior, Adam Ant had his first American hit with the song, Goody Two Shoes. Ant, a teetotaler, was always being asked about his personal life by the press. On stage, Ant was outrageous; offstage, he was restrained and sensible.

At one time, the word goody was a respectful term of address for a married woman of modest means, an abbreviation of the word goodwife. I want to be a person who is respected, and I grew up wanting to be a good wife. This story, first published in 1765, was intended to entertain children and had a moral dimension to it. Margery made a good impression, and the wealth she came into enabled her to help the poor just as she herself had been helped. She remained “adamant that money is to be used for the good of others less fortunate than oneself, not for personal benefit.”

As you can see, the meaning of this idiomatic expression has changed over time. It is disturbing how in American culture, being good had become a bad thing, and the reverse also became true. That is until, however, we’ve been hit with a pandemic. Daily reports of illness, death and financial hardship have triggered cynicism and hostility. Add to that the disgust we all should feel in response to the visceral racism we are witnessing, and we can experience a collective moral depravity. We have been so saturated with bad news, that we are starving for reports of kindness.

Jonathan D. Haidt, Ph.D., associate professor in the department of psychology at the University of Virginia, studied the feeling he calls “elevation.” Haidt defines elevation as “a warm, uplifting feeling that people experience when they see unexpected acts of human good­ness, kindness, courage, or compassion. It makes a person want to help others and to become a better person himself or herself.”

So, what would Little Goody Two Shoes do during a pandemic and racial conflicts? I think it’s safe to say she would elevate… and I think we should too.

Art and Wellness Challenge

Pick a fairy tale that speaks to you, create an image of a scene from it, and write about why it speaks to you. I invite you to share the image in a comment. You can also include your associations and how you believe this fairy tale speaks relates to you and or your situation in some way.  

The Fine Print

Participation in this and any Art and Wellness Challenge is on a voluntary basis and at your own risk.