The fairy tale of Pollicino from an Adlerian perspective

Abstract

The fairy tale provides food for thought in its parallels between the story of Pollicino and that of man in general. The ultimate purpose of stories is to provide tools for solving life's problems. Many symbolic elements of the fairy tale embody Adlerian concepts such as: the family constellation (Tom Thumb is the youngest child), feelings of inferiority (physical and economic, suffered by the protagonist in relation to his brothers and the society to which he belongs), the will to power (defeating the Ogre), compensation mechanisms (intellect and tenacity), and authentic self-expression. The double ending proposed by the author suggests two ways of overcoming the initial condition of inferiority, depending on the degree of affirmation of his will to power