A classic folktale, told in a variety of different ways, the story of Little Red Riding Hood has a different theme then the contemporary tales. Charles Perrault’s Little Red Riding Hood is one of the earliest known print versions of the tale having origins in 17th century French folklore (Opie, 93). The tale conveys the theme of stranger danger and sexuality. The wolf being the ‘stranger’ in the tale, Perrault’s moral is for girls to stay away from strangers, stating this at the end of his tale. The tale of Little Red Riding Hood is accompanied by the famous red cloak. Mostly worn by aristocracy and middle class the “village girl” represented not following the norms (Tartar, 11). It is important to note that in earlier oral tales the girl did not wear a cloak (Zipes, 80). The cloak has many significances to interpreting the theme of the story. “The hood suited the child so much” (Tartar, 11). The vibrant red colour often represents danger. This danger is present in the stranger that is the wolf. The cloak also represents the sexuality of the girl. Red can be interpreted as the menstrual blood of the girl, illustrating maturity and reaching adulthood. …show more content…
She has a loss of innocence when she trusts the wolf. “The poor child, who did not know it was dangerous to stop an listen to wolves” (Tartar, 12). Little Red Riding Hood’s name also symbolic to her innocence and vulnerability. The word little is used to describe her childlike actions in maturity. In addition, the forest is used to resemble her vulnerability. The forest is filled with temptations and danger, “as she was walking through the woods she met old neighbour wolf,” who’s temptations to eat Little Red Riding Hood lead to her loss of
In “The Company of Wolves” Carter employs conventions of gender construction and didacticism, which help establish a fairy tale space (Koske 323). Carter presents a world in which fairy tale notions of gender are upheld. In her paper, “In Olden Times, When Wishing was Having: Classic and Contemporary Fairy Tales”, Joyce Carol Oates explains that the girls and women in fairy tales “are the uncontested property of men”. Carter alludes to this male dominated reality in her tale (99). When the girl, Carter’s Red Riding Hood, insists on venturing into the woods, the narrator says that “[h]er father might forbid her, if he were home, but he is away in the forest, gathering wood, and her mother cannot deny her” (1224). There is perhaps no gendered element to a parent preventing his child from wandering into the wilderness, b...
Little Red Riding Hood, by Paul Galdone, is a children’s book that inspires and is meant to remind the audience to follow directions. It inspires the audience by combining fable characters to real world experiences such as children talking to strangers and listening to your parents and being more careful when going places you are not as familiar with. While some of the dialogue of Little Red Riding Hood, by Paul Galdone could be more in the intended audiences reading level, it's interesting storyline, visual elements, and focus on the value of following directions make this book more than worthy of inclusion on list of the “Top 100 Children’s Books”.
According to the Oxford Student’s Dictionary, adulthood is associated with being “grown to full size or strength, mature” (Seuss.14). Then why is it presented in underlying ways, in works that are considered to be children’s texts? The assumption is that children’s texts are supposedly “childish” which means “ unsuitable for a grown person, silly and immature” (pg.172). However, while studying Dr. Seuss’ The Cat In The Hat, Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland, “The Story of Grandmother”, Charles Perrault’s “Little Red Riding Hood” and Brothers Grimm “Little Red Cap” and “Snow White”, it was evident that adulthood was both reinforced and subverted through the use of literary and narrative techniques.
Carter's twist on a well-known tale likely surprises many readers. Thus she is likely suggesting we should rethink our expectations of gender roles. Another way of presenting alternate gender roles would be making Red a boy, and having him saved by a girl at the end, but this scenario would not be as striking and therefore effective. Furthermore, Red's sexual awakening and consequent taming of the "wolf" serves as encouragement for women not to be passive, but to assert themselves in all situations, especially sex, which is one area that has long been characterized by rigid/traditional expectations of gender roles.
Hansel and Gretel face challenges which involve more than their personal problems. The whole world is now threatened by the witches. The wider setting is also reflected in an ever-widening quest. Along the way, while battling the witches, the protagonists find the truth about themselves. They encounter their past and discover their real identities. They also learn to choose according to their personal morality. In fact, this second romance narrative circle deals with the protagonist’s coming of age.
This creates sinister predators within her short stories through the use of empowering and dangerous women. in ‘The Snow Child’, the use of subversion turns the traditional fable of Snow White’s existence from maternal desire into a child who is the product of paternal desire and sexual fantasy. The original tale of Snow White explores a queen who is driven by her desire for beauty and youth, this is similar within ‘The Snow Child’ as the Countess becomes jealous of the child as the Count begins to favour her. The countess and the child are portrayed as binary opposites throughout the story; as one is clothed, the other is naked. This could reflect the importance of appearance within society, and explain the Countess’ antagonistic response to the child and acts of neglect due to her jealousy of the child’s beauty. Carter’s description of the Countess’ clothing leaves the reader with an idea of her dangerous nature; she wears “pelts of black foxes”, an association suggesting a predatory and cunning nature. She also wears “scarlet heels, and spurs” and it may be that the colour of the heels comes from the actions of the spurs, which adds to this idea of violence. We see this nature when she is threatened by the child regarding the Count’s affections, “wife” becoming “the Countess” in a shift emphasised by finally having her own thoughts and feelings in the
I never looked good in red, it's not my colour." The wings worn on the head prevent others from seeing their face and vice versa, prevents them from looking anywhere except the direction in which they are facing, limiting their options to stray. All garments cover every inch of skin; ankle length skirt, full sleeves and red gloves all worn by the Handmaid prevent temptation for others and themselves.... ... middle of paper ... ...
...l, she then goes into the woods to encounter the id. There she disobeys her mother's instructions, and becomes "the poor child." In the moral, these "pretty, nicely brought-up young ladies" turn "foolish" upon talking to strangers. As "elegant" as they were once considered, it is a child's own fault if she leans to far to the irrational id. Furthermore, Freud dramatically insinuates that this struggle can only end in death, which is the exact fate of Little Red Riding Hood.
Metaphorically and spiritually, the cloth may be seen as the little boy’s soul. Another metaphorical representation of the little boys soul
“The Company of Wolves” by Angela Carter is a feminist and gruesome retelling of the fairy tale “Little Red Riding-Hood”. The story involves a werewolf, who represents a sexual predator. The werewolf is used as a symbol for both danger and desire. It also involves a young girl who does not fall victim to the fear of the wolf that she is surrounded by. She embraces her newfound sexual power and serves as symbol of sexual desire/power and female strength.
A Comparison of Little Red Riding Hood by Charles Perrault and Little Red Cap by the Brothers Grimm
Many fairy tales in literature convey hidden messages and meanings that can be found in almost every aspect of life. These subliminal messages are prevalent in the short story, “The Company of Wolves”, through the theme of gender inequality. In “The Company of Wolves”, Angela Carter displays the issue of gender through a feminist light in the plot and through symbolism, as she consistently symbolizes the woman and the wolf creature as archetypal ideologies of their own gender.
In the story Little red cap by the Grimm Brothers, the chain of events that happens in this story tells us something about how the gender roles were thought of during the era it was written in. Let it be how easily Little red cap was manipulated by the wolf to stray away from her path or the grandmother confusing the wolf for her granddaughter and allowing the wolf to enter her house without much resistance, resulting in both of them getting eaten. This portrays that women are thought to be irresponsible or careless. Adding to this, how little red cap was using a red coloured cap which attracts attention especially in a dangerous place like the forest made her an easy target, and showed that she was naive. This idea of a world where women were generally looked down on mainly came about during the period of the industrial revolution, men were the main workforce that supported that the ongoing industrialisation and women were limited to light labour such as housework and taking care of children. This gave the impression that women were incapable of supporting themselves and were reliant on the men of the house. The wolf in this story symbolises cu...
Throughout literature, authors employ a variety of strategies to highlight the central message being conveyed to the audience. Analyzing pieces of literature through the gender critics lens accentuates what the author believes to be masculine or feminine and that society and culture determines the gender responsibility of an individual. In the classic fairytale Little Red Riding Hood, the gender strategies appear through the typical fragile women of the mother and the grandmother, the heartless and clever male wolf, and the naïve and vulnerable girl as little red riding hood.
The fairytale Little Red Riding Hood by Charles Perrault is a story that recounts the adventure of the protagonist Little Red Riding Hood as she fulfills her mother’s wishes to bring a package to her ill grandmother. Perrault’s short story conveys influential life themes on the idea of male predation on adolescent women who fall victim to male deception. Perrault successfully portrays these themes through his use of rhetorical devices such as personifying the actions of the antagonist Wolf predator as he preys on the protagonist Little Red. Perrault illuminates the central theme of upholding sexual purity and being aware of eminent threats in society in his work. Roald Dahl’s poem, Little Red Riding Hood and the Wolf, is an adaptation to