Little Red Cap
- gabriellemusso
- Mar 29, 2016
- 3 min read
Hello everyone and welcome back! This week we will be taking a look at Little Red Cap by the Brothers Grimm. The story can be found in “The Complete Fairy Tales of the Brothers Grimm” Third Edition by Jacob Grimm (Author), Wilhelm Grimm (Author), John Gruelle (Illustrator), Jack Zipes (Translator, Introduction). The PDF for your viewing can be found by clicking on the picture below.
I want to start out by saying that I love this tale. It's short and too the point while still being entertaining and educational. In the future I will provide a short plot summary for my readers in order to explain main points that the readers may have had difficulty understanding. However, this tale is a very short and easy read, only about 3.5 pages, so I think it will be beneficial for everyone to take a look at the tale itself. Do not try to analyze anything at first- just read the story, as if you are a child again.
Points to think about:
Little Red Cap discusses the topic of sex in an overt way. As a child, one reads the story as just a tale. Children do not see the true message, but they learn that they should not disobey their parents because if they do something bad will happen. However, reading this as an adult, it can be analyzed more in depth. With this being said, I would like my readers to take really analyze the tale, including everything from the tale’s title to even the picture in the middle of the tale (the picture seen above). Notice how sexuality is drawn and written into the story. For instance, from the beginning of the tale we are given the impression that this is a tale of the sexual nature. The color red, first used in the title, is a symbol of sexuality and lust.
Character features:
Little Red: Little Red is depicted as a pure child, who is as delicate as glass. Little Red’s mother warns her that she may fall if she leaves the path, and the glass bottle of wine will break. This makes reference to Little Red’s delicate features as wells as her virginity. For now she is pure and whole, but the glass can break and her “red wine” will spill. Little Red is featured wearing a red cap as well as an apron. As mentioned previously, the color red, is a symbol of lust and sexuality, giving off the image that Red is a sexual girl. The apron also gives off sexual undertones. The wolf asks the girls what she is carrying under her apron. In German, this translates out to “what are you wearing under your apron” So while Little Red is seen a pure, she is seen in a sexual light as well. This purity and sexuality is further expressed through her straying of the path to pick flowers for her grandma. The flowers are not only a symbol of her purity, but symbolize the deflowering of a woman as well.
The Wolf: The Grimm's tale does not put too much emphasis on the wolf. The main characteristic is that the wolf is seen as a tempting creature in the woods who satisfies his sexual and lustful desires by consuming the little girl and her grandmother. He is also depicted as an empowering male figure. When the huntsman saves the grandmother and Little Red, the wolf take on the feminine act of giving birth, specifically through a caesarean section
Moral or Lesson:
The purpose of this tale is communicate a message about sex and pregnancy to children who may not understand the topics presented to them. The message is simple, when you're out in the woods do not stay from the path- especially if your mother tells you to stay on the path. In this context, the path represents the individual's sexual purity and virtue. If you stray from the path then you will be entering the woods, a wild and dangerous place. As a result, there will repercussions for your disobedience and lustful sexuality. However, the tale also conveys the idea that men have authority and power over women, and that women are weak beings that need to be saved. This can be seen through the acts of the huntsman who acts a father figure. If a lady should stay from the path, then her daddy will have to save her.
I hope you enjoyed this weeks post, please stay tuned for more short analysis of Little Red Riding Hood. Next week I will be discussing the Perrault version of Little Red Riding Hood! Enjoy!
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