The Many Versions of Snow White
 What do we learn by looking at the tale in relationship to its other (historical) versions? 

"The fairest one of all."

 Why, over a hundred years after the Grimm Brothers published it, do we still have an interest with the plight of Snow White? Jealousy--this destructive feeling, along with vanity, still causes self-destructive behavior. Readers relate to the young,innocent heroine or the older, jealous antagonist. 
  
  The introduction to the various versions of Snow White show us the "staying power" of these tense emotions. The protagonist, Snow White, appears innocent (with exception to the doll episode in "The Young Slave"), and unjustly finds herself at the mercy of the antagonistic mother figure in her life. The writers of each version seem to want the heroine to deserve her happy ending. Gilbert and Gubar point out that "There is, after all, no female mode for her in this tale except the 'good' (dead) mother and her living avatar the 'bad' mother" (296). This implies that Snow White will inevitably suffer from the same self-destructive fate of her step mother. I understand why Disney and the Brothers Grimm leave this potential ending. No one wants to see the the downfall of their hero. 


  The absence of the father figure in most versions was an element I had not noted. Disney films usually make a point to present absent parents. The idea that the voice in the mirror as the father brings an interesting point. The "Evil" Queen's jealousy almost seems understandable because she stays in constant battle to win the full affection of her husband. The continuous fight against the memory of the "good" dead mother and the beautiful daughter drive the "Evil" Queen toward her murderous acts. The queen jealousy is rooted in her fear of losing her youth and beauty. 

  With so many modern spins on fairy tales, we like to think, "Maybe the villain was just misunderstood." The threat of a younger, prettier version is something to which many women can relate. The stepmother's fear of no longer being "the fairest" connects women in any time period. Her battle and inevitable defeat allow the tale to remain current even today. 

Tatar, Maria ed. The Classic Fairy Tales. New York., W.W. Norton., 1999.

KCL

With this week's reading, I have constantly been singing "Lil Red Riding Hood" by Sam the Sham & the Pharaohs. If you have not had the chance to listen, I suggest finding it on YouTube.
  I must admit, I was unfamiliar with many of the versions of this tale. The plot of "Little Red Riding Hood" never much appealed to me; therefore, the readings were put off for the first few days of the week. I will admit I found the various versions of the tale engaging.
   In  "The Concept of Childhood and Children's Folktales: Test Case - "Little Red Riding Hood"", Shavit explains the lack of children's stories did not exist because the concept of childhood did not exist (317). Perrault's version has a harsh ending (unlike the the Grimms) , but also entertains while instilling fear to young children. The implication of "young girls, pretty, well-bred, and genteel" being targeted would also appeal to an older audience. Younger children are less likely to comprehend the true "wolves" preying on the young girls. 
 In "The Werewolf" by Carter, she immediately opens with the somber cold environment with various supernatural beings. After establishing the harsh atmosphere, the child is given instructions to "go and visit grandmother, who has been sick" (138). This opening completely breaks away from Perrault's where the emotional bond between grandmother and granddaughter is explained. The lack of relationship combined with the child effortlessly slashing off the paw of the wolf further the development of the harsh environment. Applying Shavit's model,  Carter's tale appears to be geared toward an older child. While the child does show emotion when she cries out at the sight of her grandmother, she still joins in on the stoning of the grandmother. Carter's moral seems more implicit than Perrault.
  I don't find that "The Werewolf" describes a typical "fairy tale" ending, but the child does prosper. Carter published The Bloody Chamber in 1979, and the role women dramatically changed during the 1970s. The child in this adaption of "Little Red Riding Hood" dramatically changes. Perhaps Carter creates an ending that is different from the other versions to emphasize the change of that time period.

KCL

Carter, Angela. “The Werewolf.” The Bloody Chamber: and Other Stories, Penguin Books, New York, 2015, pp. 137-139.

Tatar, Maria ed. The Classic Fairy Tales. New York., W.W. Norton., 1999.

 To comment on the effect with the women who leave or disappear, I noticed in "Ardour" that the men in town was discontent with the beautiful Ardour whether she was allowing winter or not. When they had the winter for months, they focused on a way to bring about her fall. When she abandons the forest with the son of the king, the peasants must work nonstop with no time for rest, and the king loses a son. Her influence over the outcome of so many lives displays the complete control she has. 

 Similar to Keats, Yeats, in his poem, introduces an enchanting woman who dictates the speaker's remaining life. Although the speaker is older in the concluding stanza, he remains focused on the physical beauty of this "glimmering girl." The narrator of "Ardour" focuses on the "breasts as steep as snow peaks." The women use their sexuality as a tool to control each situation they encounter and the men appear incapable of defending against the women. 

KCL

Hello All,
  This is my first attempt at blogging, so bear with me.This is my first class in over six years, and  I am excited to embark on this fairy tale journey.
   Upon reading this week, I have been reintroduced to the Wife of Bath. I have taught this text the for the last three years, so I have tried to approach the tale from a fresh perspective. Instead of focusing on the knight's lesson, I paid more attention to the the fairy woman's empowering ending.
  By analyzing the fairy woman in comparison with Lanval's fairy and Philomela, I noticed the emphasis on the fairy women controlling each situation they encountered. Considering I have been teaching many texts this year with women being controlled and oppressed, this is a refreshing change of pace.
  KCL