"Sweet Sorrow": The Universal Theme of Separation in Folklore and Children's Literature

Traditional folktales and classic children's literature present abandoned girls who not only achieve independence, but they also suggest the dominant gender's survival is itself dependent upon the "weaker" sex. Abandoned girls don't need someone to take care of them; rather they need someone to take care of. But if this were simply a matter of surrogate mothering, it could be accomplished by caring for a little sister or a female friend. Instead, it is a male who needs to be cared for, protected, or rescued. Furthermore, these males are not just children, but also adults.