Tangled and Rapunzel

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Tangled and Rapunzel
Many people know the old story of Rapunzel. It is a fairy tale that has been told many times, and in different ways. The original German version is much different than the modern Disney version, “Tangled”. However, both stories give an interesting and different Gender perspective. In classic fairy tales the woman is usually in need of rescuing, and the prince is the one who rescues her. In both of these stories the Gender roles are somewhat different, especially in Tangled. Tangled presents different gender roles than most classical fairy tales because, Rapunzel is more independent, does not fall in love immediately, and saves the prince in the end.
In the movie Tangled Rapunzel is more independent than most fairy tale princesses. The original German version written by Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm represent several classic gender roles in fairy tales and some different roles as well. However, in the original version Rapunzel makes the woman more dependent. Rapunzel is in need of the man to bring her silk everyday so she can make a ladder to be able to climb down from her tower (Grimm). In Tangled, Rapunzel takes control of the situation when she takes the man (Flynn Rider) captive and forces him to help her. Rapunzel takes Flynn captive when he climbs into the tower. Rapunzel she hits him over the head with a frying pan and ties him up. Rapunzel proves her independence when she says, “Too weak to handle myself out there, huh, Mother? Well......tell that to my frying pan.” This scene in the movie goes against the classic gender roles in most old fairy tales. Instead of the woman being frightened and needing help, Rapunzel takes action (Greno, Howard).
In many classic fairy tales the man and the woman fall in l...

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...d this he saves Rapunzel from being stuck in the tower forever. Rapunzel holds the man she loves in her arms and as she does she begins to cry. A single tear falls onto Rider. This tear heals him completely, and the couple is able to live happily ever after (Greno, Howard). In this version the woman and the man save each other, this goes against the gender roles of many fairy tales. The woman is not completely dependent on the man but he is also dependent on her.
The story of Rapunzel has many interesting gender roles in both versions. Both versions portray a different woman then most classic fairy tales. This is even truer in the story of Tangled. Tangled breaks down many stereotypes, and expectations of the woman’s role. Throughout the story the Rapunzel is different, because she is more independent, doesn’t fall in love right away, and saves the man in the end.

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