Abstract
This thesis examines the moment of the encounter with the other. The concept of the wager by Richard Kearney, which takes place during this encounter, is analysed with fairytales of Grimm. The goal of the thesis is to see what perspective these tales offer on the encounter with the other.The first chapter describes Kearney’s concept of the other as a stranger. The second chapter describes his concept of the wager towards the stranger, elaborating on its five aspects: imagination, humour, commitment, discernment, and hospitality. The third chapter bridges between the wager and fairytales by exploring how Kearney uses fictional stories and how he interprets them. The fourth and final chapter examines Kearney’s wager towards the stranger through a selection of Grimm fairytales, using the author’s hermeneutic model.
The analysis shows how fairytales focus on examples of good and bad outcomes of the encounter, showing the reward for hospitality as well as the risk that is always part of the wager. As such, they serve as examples of the wager and as cautionary tales for bad encounters. While all five aspects of the wager are present in the tales, interpretation is required to see them. Discernment is the most dominant aspect, appearing in every selected fairytale. Many strangers appear in disguises that require the protagonist to discern who hides behind. Hospitality and the love it requires is a trademark of good characters while evil ones deny it or feign it. Imagination connects with the beauty of protagonists such as Little Snow White. Commitment shows in many weddings at the end of the tales. Humour is the least visible factor due to limited interpretation by Kearney and limited selection of tales. The fairytales of “King Thrushbeard”, “All Fur” and “The Frog King” have a special position in that they tell about the essential struggle with the stranger during the wager. Finally, the attitude of wonder and not knowing towards the stranger can be read in the innocence of many protagonists who are often children or maidens with little knowledge of the world.
| Date of Award | 5 Jul 2024 |
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| Original language | English |
| Supervisor | Laurens ten Kate (Supervisor) & Fernando Suárez Müller (Supervisor) |