Little Red Riding Hood has never enjoyed an easy life. During the last three centuries, generations of male narrators and moralistic Victorian authors of both sexes have changed the once straightforward and clever peasant girl, who was capable of taking care of herself and outsmarting a seducing wolf by her own wit, into a passive heroine controlled by others to suit the traditional (male) view of how “nice girls” ought to behave.
In hundreds of adaptations, writers of children’s literature repeatedly let the young girl pay for her irresponsibility and her reckless talking to strangers. Red Riding Hood was sent into the forest to be gobbled up or raped by the wicked wolf over and over again. Generations of writers never hesitated to blame the girl for her misfortune. Since Charles Perrault first published the tale of Little Red Riding Hood in 1697, her tragedy normally has been considered her own fault. If she had only listened to her mother’s advice, gone straight to her grandmother’s house and had not talked to the wolf, nothing would have happened to her.
Until the beginning of the 20th century, that seems to have been the common attitude amongst fairy tale writers towards young girls. Despite the fact that many narrators were women, modern fairy tale tradition had been totally bourgeoisified by the turn of the century. Female Victorian writers adopted and continued the manipulation of gender roles that had been initiated by educated middle-class narrators in France and Germany.
In that process, the young girl who did so well in old French folk tradition vanished. Popular culture changed the simple and witty peasant girl, who brought her grandmother milk and bread, who did not give up, but took action and tricked the wolf, into a naive and passive heroine without neither character nor wit. It created a helpless girl who was dependent on goodwill from other people to save herself – even though, in her case, help from outside came too late.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- Preface
- Strange Encounters in the Wood
- Red Riding Hood and the Wondertale World
- Red Riding Hood before Charles Perrault
- The Broken Jar and the Colour Red
- Charles Perrault, Werewolves and the Fear of Female Sexuality
- The Mystery of the Red Hood
- Reinventing Little Red Riding Hood
- The Brothers Grimm and the Biedermeier Era
- Nice Girls go to Heaven; other Girls go Everywhere
- 19th-century Victorian and Puritan Adaptations
- The Red Riding Hood
- Rehabilitating Little Red Riding Hood
- Neo-Conservative English Versions
- It is Not so Easy to Fool Little Girls Nowadays
- Red Hot Riding Hood
- Feminist Adaptations
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This essay examines the evolution of Little Red Riding Hood's portrayal across different adaptations, focusing on how her dress and interactions with the wolf reflect societal changes and attitudes towards female sexuality over three centuries. It traces the tale's transformation from a clever peasant narrative to a Victorian morality tale and finally, its reclamation by feminist writers.
- The evolution of Little Red Riding Hood's character and symbolism.
- The changing societal attitudes towards female sexuality reflected in the adaptations.
- The role of dress and appearance in shaping the character's portrayal.
- The contrast between the original folk tale and its later, moralized versions.
- The feminist reinterpretations of the story and their significance.
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
Preface: This preface introduces the essay's central argument: that Little Red Riding Hood's portrayal has been significantly altered over time, transforming her from a resourceful protagonist into a passive victim who is punished for her own perceived failings. The author highlights the shift in how female characters were depicted, particularly in Victorian-era adaptations. The essay aims to analyze these changes, focusing on the character's dress and interactions with the wolf as reflections of evolving societal views on female sexuality.
Strange Encounters in the Wood: This chapter establishes the setting of the tale as a rural society where encounters with supernatural creatures are commonplace. The forest is presented as a liminal space between the human and supernatural worlds, where Red Riding Hood's encounter with the wolf occurs. The chapter further contextualizes Red Riding Hood within the "wondertale" genre, highlighting her differences from other classic fairy tale heroines.
Red Riding Hood and the Wondertale World: This chapter positions Red Riding Hood within the context of wondertales, emphasizing her lack of psychological depth and her straightforward interaction with the supernatural. The chapter contrasts her fate in Perrault's version with the happy endings typical of other wondertales, highlighting the stark consequences of her actions in Perrault's rendition. The lack of character development and the absence of a restorative ending sets her apart from other fairy tale heroines.
Red Riding Hood before Charles Perrault: This section explores the origins of the Little Red Riding Hood tale before Perrault's version. It reveals that Perrault did not invent the plot but adapted elements from French oral traditions, particularly a burlesque peasant narrative titled "The Story of Grandmother." This original version is described as having a strong sense of humor and depicting a clever girl who outwits the werewolf, representing a stark contrast to later, more moralistic adaptations. The chapter emphasizes the story's roots in pagan rituals and its celebration of female self-reliance.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
Little Red Riding Hood, gender roles, female sexuality, fairy tale adaptations, Victorian morality, feminist interpretations, dress symbolism, oral tradition, wondertale, Charles Perrault, Brothers Grimm, societal change.
Little Red Riding Hood: A Comprehensive Language Preview - FAQ
What is the main focus of this essay?
This essay examines how the portrayal of Little Red Riding Hood has evolved across different adaptations over three centuries. It analyzes how her dress, interactions with the wolf, and the overall narrative reflect societal changes and attitudes towards female sexuality.
What are the key themes explored in the essay?
The key themes include the evolution of Little Red Riding Hood's character and symbolism; changing societal attitudes towards female sexuality; the role of dress and appearance in shaping her portrayal; the contrast between the original folk tale and its later, moralized versions; and the feminist reinterpretations of the story and their significance.
What is covered in the Preface?
The preface introduces the central argument: Little Red Riding Hood's portrayal has been significantly altered over time, shifting from a resourceful protagonist to a passive victim. It highlights the changes in how female characters were depicted, especially in Victorian-era adaptations, and sets the stage for the essay's analysis.
What does the chapter "Strange Encounters in the Wood" discuss?
This chapter establishes the tale's setting as a rural society where supernatural encounters are common. It presents the forest as a liminal space and contextualizes Red Riding Hood within the "wondertale" genre, highlighting her differences from other classic fairy tale heroines.
What is the significance of "Red Riding Hood and the Wondertale World"?
This chapter positions Red Riding Hood within the context of wondertales, emphasizing her lack of psychological depth and straightforward interaction with the supernatural. It contrasts her fate in Perrault's version with other wondertales, highlighting the stark consequences of her actions and her lack of character development compared to other fairy tale heroines.
What is revealed in "Red Riding Hood before Charles Perrault"?
This chapter explores the tale's origins before Perrault's version, revealing that he adapted elements from French oral traditions, specifically a burlesque peasant narrative. It contrasts the original's humor and clever heroine with later, moralistic adaptations, emphasizing its roots in pagan rituals and celebration of female self-reliance.
What is the overall argument of the essay concerning the evolution of Little Red Riding Hood's character?
The essay argues that Little Red Riding Hood's portrayal has been dramatically altered across different adaptations, reflecting evolving societal views on women. She transforms from a clever, resourceful figure in early versions to a passive victim punished for perceived failings in later, more moralistic adaptations. This transformation is particularly evident in the Victorian era.
What role does dress play in the essay's analysis?
The essay uses Red Riding Hood's dress and appearance as a key element in understanding her portrayal across different adaptations. Changes in her attire and how it is described reflect and contribute to the evolving societal attitudes towards female sexuality and behavior.
What are some of the key adaptations discussed in the essay?
The essay discusses various adaptations, including Charles Perrault's version, the Brothers Grimm's interpretation, Victorian and Puritan adaptations, neo-conservative English versions, and feminist reinterpretations.
What are the main keywords associated with the essay's themes?
Keywords include Little Red Riding Hood, gender roles, female sexuality, fairy tale adaptations, Victorian morality, feminist interpretations, dress symbolism, oral tradition, wondertale, Charles Perrault, Brothers Grimm, and societal change.
- Quote paper
- Cand.mag. Henrik Petersen (Author), 2010, Dress Codes and Gender Roles in "Little Red Riding Hood", Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/200987
