Moral Lessons in Into the Woods?

BroadwayBaby9211 · Moral Lessons in Into the Woods?

What do you think are the “morals” or “lessons” in Into the Woods?

1. No one is all good or all bad; good people can do bad things, and bad people can do good things. This is illustrated best in the Witch; although a characteristically “evil” character, she’s not an evil person, she’s “not nice, not good, just right, just the witch”.

2. We shouldn’t get everything we want. The whole plot of this story is based on “wishes”; the Baker and his Wife want a child, Cinderella wants her prince, Jack wants a friend, etc. At the end of Act 1, they all get their wishes, and are “happy”. But by the beginning of Act 2, they’re still not satisfied, and they just keep wanting something else, which ends tragically. Even in the final scene, Cinderella’s last “I wish!” proves that we will never stop “wanting” and “wishing”.

Agree? Disagree? Let's hear it!

-BB

ConverseSneaker

Good morals, although you forgot some big ones.

1. Children will Listen...although children may not obey you, they will listen and learn from you and your mistakes so be careful what you do and tell them. The Witch tried to keep Rapunzel from making her own mistakes, only to have her repeat the Witch's mistakes. The Baker learns to run away from his guilt like his father but he knows how it feels to be the abandoned son as well and so returns. Cindy listened to others her whole life and was unaccustomed to making her own choices when she had to, but she tells Red No One is Alone and comforts heer like her mother did.

And I diagree with you somewhat on number 2. Not that we shouldn't get what we want, but rather that getting what you want won't just make you happy. The Witch got her beauty, but lost both Rapunzel and her powers. The Baker got both a child and finally learned to calm him, but lost his wife. Little Red got her flowers, but was eaten by the wolf.

And then of course the smaller morals....nice is different than good, etc.

ilovebway

I agree with both you and The Shoe on the whole wish deal. I think it means that we are always constantly wishing and being greedy and we don't even realize that sometimes the things we want the most may not always be what we thought they would be and could actually take happiness away from you. (For example, The Witch recovering her beauty but losing her powers and the most precious thing in the world for her, Rapunzel).

I also really like the moral in Moments in the Woods. "When you've had an 'and' and you're back to 'or'. Makes the 'or' mean more than it did before."

BroadwayBaby9211	Moral Lessons in Into the Woods? What do you think are the “morals” or “lessons” in Into the Woods? 1. No one is all good or all bad; good people can do bad things, and bad people can do good things. This is illustrated best in the Witch; although a characteristically “evil” character, she’s not an evil person, she’s “not nice, not good, just right, just the witch”. 2. We shouldn’t get everything we want. The whole plot of this story is based on “wishes”; the Baker and his Wife want a child, Cinderella wants her prince, Jack wants a friend, etc. At the end of Act 1, they all get their wishes, and are “happy”. But by the beginning of Act 2, they’re still not satisfied, and they just keep wanting something else, which ends tragically. Even in the final scene, Cinderella’s last “I wish!” proves that we will never stop “wanting” and “wishing”. Agree? Disagree? Let's hear it! -BB
ConverseSneaker	Good morals, although you forgot some big ones. 1. Children will Listen...although children may not obey you, they will listen and learn from you and your mistakes so be careful what you do and tell them. The Witch tried to keep Rapunzel from making her own mistakes, only to have her repeat the Witch's mistakes. The Baker learns to run away from his guilt like his father but he knows how it feels to be the abandoned son as well and so returns. Cindy listened to others her whole life and was unaccustomed to making her own choices when she had to, but she tells Red No One is Alone and comforts heer like her mother did. And I diagree with you somewhat on number 2. Not that we shouldn't get what we want, but rather that getting what you want won't just make you happy. The Witch got her beauty, but lost both Rapunzel and her powers. The Baker got both a child and finally learned to calm him, but lost his wife. Little Red got her flowers, but was eaten by the wolf. And then of course the smaller morals....nice is different than good, etc.
ilovebway	I agree with both you and The Shoe on the whole wish deal. I think it means that we are always constantly wishing and being greedy and we don't even realize that sometimes the things we want the most may not always be what we thought they would be and could actually take happiness away from you. (For example, The Witch recovering her beauty but losing her powers and the most precious thing in the world for her, Rapunzel). I also really like the moral in Moments in the Woods. "When you've had an 'and' and you're back to 'or'. Makes the 'or' mean more than it did before."

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Moral Lessons in Into the Woods?