Fairytales are simpler and more digestible forms of literature, allowing children to learn complex themes and emotions. However, some of these tales have darker and grittier elements that have been misconstrued into our favorite lighthearted classics.
The animated 1950s movie “Cinderella,” is a classic Disney fairytale with a beloved princess. Our journey begins with the conflict between Cinderella and her jealous stepsisters, all preceding a royal ball where the prince picks out a bride. Her fairy godmother assists her by conjuring up a beautiful dress and distinct snug glass slippers, to which she attends in this outfit. When fleeing she leaves the slipper behind.
A truly heartwarming story, especially once it is revealed that the glass slipper belongs to her, despite her family’s jealousy in the she happily marries the prince Disney takes liberties in their adaptation which differs from the original story called “Aschenputtel” by authors, Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm. Instead of a fairy godmother, a white bird helps with her transformation. Towards the final act, the stepsisters are so jealous and desperate to marry the prince they cut off entire toes just to fit their feet in the slipper. However, the blood is too noticeable and the bird snitches on them. As a consequence, the bird gouges the sisters’ eyes out as a result of their moral corruption. While completely justified, this horrific alternative would never have been animated by Disney. Nowadays this violence would be impossible to imagine in “Cinderella.”
Similarly, another story which follows this similar trend of more lighthearted creative liberties would be “Little Red Riding Hood,” meant to teach children the theme of being cautious when trusting strangers. The widespread version treads in similar footsteps to the original, with the plot line of the girl in a velvet hood door-dashing food to her sick grandmother in the forest. It is revealed later on that unknown to her, a wolf is impersonating her grandmother. She arrives suspicious of her grandmother’s unique characteristics and deceiving mannerisms. If she had a shred of self preservation or rudimentary intelligence, she most likely would have noticed that her “grandmother” has claws, canine teeth and fur. Eventually she leans in too close, and is swallowed whole by the disguised wolf. Fortunately for her, a brave huntsman notices the action and saves her by slicing open the wolf’s stomach and filling it with heavy stones. Apparently the huntsman is against natural selection. Thankfully in the original version, Little Red Riding Hood straight up dies, with no hero to save her. It proves how unforgiving the reality of trusting strangers can truly be.
Such a grim ending can be compared to the classic story “Hansel and Grettel.” The plot follows the two siblings stumbling lost into a forest, where they eventually come across a magical and edible home constructed from sweets. They soon realize this home belongs to the wicked witch who plans to eat them. However, due to the kids’ courage, they manage to push the witch into an oven, ultimately killing her. From then on, the kids are never hungry again. There are many details that had to be toned down to tell a more lighthearted story. For example, the kids were intentionally abandoned by their stepmother during a troubling famine and instead of the witch being a more cartoony villain, it is heavily emphasized that her intention is to cannibalize the two. But perhaps that same discomfort explored by the original authors was the intent.
Before Disney softened the tales into sweet bedtime stories, these fables served a much greater purpose. They served as cautionary tales about vanity, being naive, and the cruelties of the world. Disney brought magic, but their original stories gave them meaning.
