The Sun Moon And Talia Analysis

Although Walt Disney’s, “Sleeping Beauty” is considered by many to depict a sexist portrayal of its female characters, the fairy tale it was based off of, Giambattista Basile’s, “The Sun, Moon, and Talia” delved much deeper into misogynistic representations of women. Disney’s modification and development of the story, although still lacking in portraying an accurate image of femininity, gives us a more appropriate and considerate perspective than the original. Sleeping beauty’s lack of capability to do anything for herself is a prominent similarity found in both stories. The two stories share the same basic tale of a passive princess who must be saved by her prince from an evil female villain. The passive girl relies on the help of a man, and throughout the

Not only does this setup pit women against each other, but also leaves the reader with an unsatisfying and stereotypical view of women. The women in this story are put into the limiting categories of a passive and silent object of desire, or a wicked and jealous monster. This gives the reader two negative and narrow ideas on what a woman can be. In contrast, Disney’s take on the story adds a few more female roles that help illustrate a more wholesome view on femininity. The three fairy Godmothers in Disney’s “Sleeping Beauty” although a bit quirky and ditsy, represent a new type of female character. The fairies were the true protagonists, and without their power and help, the princess could not have been saved. They embodied a more powerful and positive portrayal of women. Their role in the story gives girls something more to admire and look up to than beauty and passiveness; but intelligence, capability, kindness, responsibility, and even sense of humor. Their role also encourages women working together, instead of battling against each