Literature and Living Documents

Religion and politics will always influence literature. We can tell a great deal about a time period based on its works…

Beauty and the Beast is hands down, no argument, my favorite Disney movie of all time! I was all giggly like a school girl at a Justin Bieber concert when I bought my ticket to see the live action version. During the movie, my fiancé got terribly annoyed with me and threatened to move away. I, of course, attributed his frustrations to my loud, off-key singing. Though I am sure the singing did not help, his aggravation came from the fact that every time something happened in the live action film that did not happen in the animated version, I leaned over and whispered, “That’s not right!” or “That’s not what really happened!” I am a firm believer in leaving the classics alone. I did not like the remake of Steel Magnolias. I despised the version of The Rocky Horror Picture Show recently aired. Why? Because they are classics. Leave them alone!

With that being said, I had a completely different take on the various versions of fairytales. I love watching the evolution of the characters and the softening of the storylines. I wrote my paper on Beauty and the Beast. I knew going in that my personal bias could affect the lens through which I read; however, I tried to remain objective. To my surprise, I enjoyed the reading. I actually continued reading the different versions long after I determined which tales I would use for the purpose of the paper. The assorted versions of the tale provide insight into the culture and values of the region in which they were written. The underlying messages and satirical commentary are so interesting and reflective of social issues. Why do the fairytales change? Because the moral changes; the purpose changes. The live action version of Beauty and the Beast was intended to draw in children AND adults, so changes were made and information was added. Did it make the tale worse? No! Actually, it answered a great deal of questions and offered new perspective. Reading multiple versions of fairytales works in the same manner.

The Grimms version of Beauty and the Beast, known as “The Signing, Springing Lark, was so different from the contemporary version. The girl immediately married the beast/lion and seemingly fell in love. He did not have to work for her affection or try to win her over. What also intrigued me is that he was only a lion by day; at night he took on a human form. Bettelheim made several interesting arguments about oedipal love and arranged marriages. He explained that sex without love is “beastly” and a person must be loved in order to become loveable. Very interesting perspective…

Reading various versions of fairytales is both insightful and interesting. 

Snow White: A Woman's Quest for Attention

On October 6, 2014, I went on a date with the man whom I would soon grow to love. On October 22, 2016, this man asked me to be his wife. We are currently in the throes of wedding planning; on October 28, 2017, I will become Mrs. Williams. Along with my new last name, I will gain three “bonus children.” We do not like the term “stepmother”; its connotations are far too negative. I mention all of this because I had no clue just how “fairy tale” our love story truly is. I could go on and on about the flowers he sends for no reason. I could regale you all with our engagement story (it was one for the books), but I will stick to the assignment and talk about “Snow White.”

Despite my best attempts to rise above “the evil stepmother” insignia emblazoned on my chest, I found myself unwillingly thrust into battle with my future husband’s teenage daughter. For the life of me, I could never understand why she hated me so much… then I read the assigned “Snow White” materials. As the introduction explains, “many versions of the story show (step) mother and daughter competing for the attention of a charismatic male figure” (86). When our relationship was budding and new, I was the center of the charismatic male’s attention. I failed to realize that in between the time when he divorced his former wife and met me, his beautiful, young daughter got all of the attention that I swooped in and stole. Now with that being said, I pride myself on self-awareness; I realize that I can be a jealous old hag. Following a divisive argument between my handsome prince’s daughter and myself, we determined that the young princess and the old queen needed separation. So, my prince spent time with his daughter… just them… without me! I became very jealous and nearly forced him to choose. Fortunately, I have a child of my own, so I realized that even suggesting such a choice would truly make me an evil witch. With time, the princess and I came to an agreement that did involve poisonous apples or tiny coal-mining men.

While reading the assigned material, I had several “ah-ha” moments. Why was I jealous of her? I knew very well why she was jealous of me, but why was I jealous of her? Was it her role as his daughter? I cannot, nor do I wish to take her place. Was it her ability to cause issues with my handsome prince and me? He has always stuck by my side, so that should not be a problem. Then it clicked: My jealousy may have nothing to do with her relationship with her father so much as her relationship with me!

Though the story has changed throughout history, the central idea remains the same – women are taught to be enslaved by their looks. Gilbert and Gubar insightfully state that “Snow White has exchanged one glass coffin for another, delivered from the prison where the Queen put her only to be imprisoned in the looking glass from which the King’s voice speaks daily.” In my personal situation, the roles were reversed. I was the raved-haired distraction that stole the queen’s attention. However, in time, I found that my position as star player was threatened, so I began to toy with sinister plots.

I have known the Disney version of this tale for as long as I can remember. The stepmother was jealous and wanted her beautiful stepdaughter out of the picture. That is a plot I can handle. The idea of the stepmother and birth mother being the same person blows my mind. BUT as an educator, I see this scenario play out far more often than I care to admit. Mothers are jealous of their daughters’ sixteen-year-old figure. They think back on their pre-baby bodies and begrudgingly blame their stretch marks on the younger, prettier versions of themselves. I have never considered “Snow White” a feminist tale, but I think it is safe to say the shoe fits (no Cinderella pun intended). The suggestion of women’s roles being dwarfed and their only stock and store being their looks… no wonder women hate each other so much! We have been taught to feel threatened by those who are younger and prettier than us. We expect men to “kill” for us before we accept that their love is true. This speaks volumes about the relationship between wives and their mothers-in-law and stepmothers and their stepdaughters. My bonus princes and I get along just fine, so why does the princess hate me?

I’m sorry for being so all over the place; my mind has been racing with ideas since I read the introduction and essay. I am truly enthralled by the ideas presented in the text about this classic tale.

Fifty Shades of Red

“What big eyes you have, the kind of eyes that drive wolves mad.

So just to see that you don't get chased I think I ought to walk with you for a ways.

What full lips you have, they're sure to lure someone bad.

So until you get to grandma's place I think you ought to walk with me and be safe.

 I'm gonna keep my sheep suit on until I'm sure that you've been shown that I can be trusted walking with you alone.”

You may recognize these lyrics from Sam the Sham & the Pharaohs, circa 1966. I will never forget the first time I heard this song. I was riding shotgun in my father’s Ford Maverick when he let out an ear-rattling howl… My dad has the best “Ooooooowwww” you can imagine! It did not occur to me, at the time, to question the lyrics I heard. In retrospect, I question many of the songs that my parents allowed me to sing as a child, but that is an entirely different post (and therapy session). I mention these lyrics because of the strong parallel to the message conveyed in Angela Carter’s “The Werewolf.”

 The relationship between the child and her grandmother is not detailed in the story, but one can assume that it was amiable. After all, the kid was delivering a “get well soon” package; so it stands to reason that she liked her grandmother enough to exercise empathy. Now, with that being said, I am going out on a limb with my presumed audience of this text…

The message of this tale likens Perrault’s version of LRRH; it sends a strong message about trust. We assume that our family and friends have our best interest at heart; however, that may not always be the case. Unfortunately, the ones that we trust are oftentimes the ones who hurt us the most deeply.

With that being said, I would like to draw attention to the fact that the girl was wearing, “a scabby coat of sheepskin…” Of all the skin in all the world, why sheep? Is she a wolf in sheep’s clothing, perhaps? I mean, the kid, “lived in her grandmother’s house,” and “prospered” from her grandmother’s death. My grandmother has been dead for nearly three years, and I have yet to enter her home. I certainly could not live there! Was she fully aware of her shape-shifting grandmother? Did she “cry wolf” and turn the village against her grandmother with the whole “witch’s nipple” business? Think about it, whose story do we tend to believe? If your answer is, “The one we hear first,” then you and I are on the same page.

I realize that I am stretching a bit here, but I feel like the audience of this tale may be the person who plays victim to the tragedy he creates. I am reminded of the girl who gets on Facebook and posts, “I hate my life this is the worst day ever!” (Insert sad emoji and depressing hashtag) then gets offended when someone asks what’s wrong. Are you following me? I feel as though the message in “The Werewolf” is that there are no victims. The wolf/grandmother tried to teach the girl a lesson and got killed. The girl protected herself from the wolf and cut her grandmother’s hand off. People make decisions that oftentimes lead to detriment. Some women get led astray by “wolves in sheep’s clothing.” Some women walk around in their red fishnets acting oblivious to the wolves they are attracting. Some people follow the path their entire lives and still encounter tragedy. Some people forge their own paths and never feel the slightest speed bump.

This lesson, in my opinion is more applicable to today’s audience. In many ways, we are a cut-throat society. We are taught to get rid of people who get in our way. If that means offing Grandma then so be it. Kill or be killed, right? We are a society of victims who protest rights that have not been violated and destroy out of fear of destruction. The line between predator and prey has been very blurred… just like in “The Werewolf”

The Beautiful Beastly World of Fairy Tales

Wolf-Alice Prezi

http://prezi.com/hwbupvyej41w/?utm_campaign=share&utm_medium=copy&rc=ex0share
http://prezi.com/hwbupvyej41w/?utm_campaign=share&utm_medium=copy&rc=ex0share