The fairy tale connection is explicitly stated, and I've referenced the fairy tales. People just wanted in-story synopses. I think I've just talked myself into ignoring their ignorant butts. It's not my fault if they don't remember basic fairy tales. If they don't get the allusion, that's their loss.

If they don't get the allusion, that's their loss.

That's true. Personally, I prefer the subtle allusion. The off-the-cuff, glancing, slight, illuminating, interesting, tricky allusion. Not so big on the "I've rewritten Les Miserables as a Law and Order episode" way.

Yay! Validation. Yeah, subtle allusions are much better.

Second on the validation. They're not so much fairy tales as cultural touchstones, anyway. If they don't understand the basic metaphors of Western civilizaton, you alone aren't going to fix it.

I'll validate you, Ali, too. I think they're wrong.

I think they are *deeply* stupid, and probably still need to be reminded to wash their hands. But don't lead with that, unless you hate them.

Well, I don't greatly respect their opinions, but I don't hate them. And despite the quote up in the right hand corner, I'm accepting all validation. Thanks, guys.

More validation- I vastly prefer the subtle allusion. The one even people who recognise it have to take a second to think about before they're sure they've got it. Of course, if you do it too often- like me- you tend to sound insufferably clever or trying to sound overly educated, like Thomas Hardy, but that isn't as bad as making it to obvious.

Thank you, Am-Chau! And hi! Nice to meet you!

I agree with Am-Chau (nice to meet you, by the by!). When the allusions are just subtle enough that you have to think about them for a second, it's a thrill when you recognize (or think you recognize) one. It gives you the sort of feeling you get with an in-joke or a shout out, or it can give you the joy of a "Eureka!" sort of moment.

When things are spelled out too clearly, I sometimes feel as if the author is being patronizing.