An Analysis of Gender Transformations in the Sleeping Beauty Fairy Tale

An analysis of gender transformations in the Sleeping Beauty fairy tale. By Monique Banks 201204216 Submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Arts in English In the Department of English At University of Fort Hare Supervisor: Professor Dianne Shober November, 2017 Table of Contents Declaration ................................................................................................................. iv Abstract ...................................................................................................................... v Acknowledgements ................................................................................................... vii Introduction ................................................................................................................ 1 Chapter 1: Background and History of Children’s Literature and the Western Fairy Tale ............................................................................................................................ 8 1.1 Children’s Literature .......................................................................................... 8 1.2 Fairy Tales ...................................................................................................... 12 1.3 Fairy Tales as Children’s Literature ................................................................ 16 1.4 Seventeenth Century France .......................................................................... 18 1.5 Charles Perrault .............................................................................................. 22 1.6 Charles Perrault’s The Tales of Mother Goose ............................................... 23 1.7 Nineteenth Century Germany ......................................................................... 24 1.8 Fairy Tales in Germany ................................................................................... 26 1.9 The Grimm Brothers (Jacob and Wilhelm) ...................................................... 27 1.10 The Grimm Brother’s Children’s and Household Tales ................................. 29 1.11 Later Remakes of the Tales .......................................................................... 31 Chapter 2: Western Feminism and Feminist Literary Criticism ................................. 33 2.1 History and Development of Feminism ........................................................... 33 2.1.1 Mary Wollstonecraft .................................................................................. 33 2.1.2 Waves of Feminism .................................................................................. 35 2.1.3 Simone De Beauvoir ................................................................................. 37 2.1.4 Betty Friedan ............................................................................................ 40 2.1.5 Luce Irigaray ............................................................................................. 42 2.1.6 Gayle Rubin .............................................................................................. 44 2.1.7 Judith Butler .............................................................................................. 47 page i 2.2 Feminist Literary Criticism ............................................................................... 50 2.3 Feminist Literary Criticism in Children’s Literature .......................................... 57 Chapter 3: The Remakes of Charles Perrault and the Grimm Brothers ................... 61 3.1 History of the Sleeping Beauty Tale ................................................................ 61 3.2 Charles Perrault’s The Sleeping Beauty in the Wood (1697) .......................... 63 3.2.1 Synopsis of the Tale ................................................................................. 63 3.2.2 Feminist Analysis ...................................................................................... 65 3.2.2.1 Sleeping Beauty ................................................................................. 65 3.2.2.2 The Ogress Mother Character ............................................................ 72 3.2.2.3 Other Female Characters ................................................................... 75 3.2.2.4 The Prince Character ......................................................................... 77 3.2.2.5 Gender Relationships ......................................................................... 82 3.3 The Grimm Brothers’ Briar Rose (1812).......................................................... 85 3.3.1. Synopsis of the Tale ............................................................................. 85 3.3.2. Feminist Analysis .................................................................................. 86 3.3.2.1 Briar Rose .......................................................................................... 86 3.3.2.2 Other Female Characters ................................................................... 91 3.3.2.3. The Prince Character ........................................................................ 92 3.3.2.4. Gender Relationships ........................................................................ 94 Chapter 4: Remakes over the Years ........................................................................ 97 4.1 Anne Thackeray Ritchie’s The Sleeping Beauty in the Wood (1890) .............. 98 4.1.1 Background of Anne Thackeray Ritchie and the Tale ............................... 98 4.1.2 Synopsis of the Tale ................................................................................. 99 4.1.3 Feminist Analysis .................................................................................... 101 4.1.3.1 Cecilia ............................................................................................... 101 4.1.3.2 Other Female Characters ................................................................. 106 4.1.3.3 Francis Lulworth (Frank) ................................................................... 108 page ii 4.1.3.4 Gender Relationships ....................................................................... 109 4.2 Angela Carter’s The Lady of the House of Love (1979) ................................ 110 4.2.1 Background of Angela Carter and the Tale ............................................. 110 4.2.2 Synopsis of the Tale ............................................................................... 111 4.2.3 Feminist Analysis .................................................................................... 113 4.2.3.1 The Countess ................................................................................... 113 4.2.3.2 The Crone ........................................................................................ 123 4.2.3.3 The Officer ........................................................................................ 123 4.2.3.4 Gender Relationships ....................................................................... 126 4.3 Robert Coover’s Briar Rose (1996) ............................................................... 127 4.3.1 Background of Robert Coover and the Tale............................................ 127 4.3.2 Synopsis of the Tale ............................................................................... 130 4.3.3 Feminist Analysis .................................................................................... 133 4.3.3.1 The Princess..................................................................................... 133 4.3.3.2 The Fairy .......................................................................................... 139 4.3.3.3 The Prince ........................................................................................ 140 4.4 Neil Gaiman’s The Sleeper and the Spindle (2014) ...................................... 142 4.4.1 Background of Neil Gaiman and the Tale ............................................... 142 4.4.2 Synopsis of the Tale ............................................................................... 143 4.4.3 Feminist Analysis .................................................................................... 145 4.4.3.1 Snow White ...................................................................................... 145 4.4.3.2 Sleeping Beauty ............................................................................... 149 4.4.3.3 The Old Woman ............................................................................... 152 4.4.3.4 The Dwarves .................................................................................... 153 Conclusion ............................................................................................................. 156 Reference List ........................................................................................................ 165 page iii Declaration I, the undersigned, hereby declare that this thesis is my own unaided work and that I have not previously in its entirety or in any part submitted it at any university for a degree. _______________________________ Monique Banks ____________day of ______________ , 2017. page iv Abstract The fairy tale genre has an extremely complex, yet interesting history and development. Originally created and used for the entertainment of adults, these tales traditionally included a wide range of themes, characters and gender dynamics than more recent, modern tales. This is because the original tales spoke to and included themes, characters and gender roles evident in the societal

Load more