Think back to a time how something you loved was ruined by a fact. Now be prepared if you love Little Red Riding Hood.Little red riding hood is a story of expressing sexuality. Throughout history the retold versions of Little Red Riding Hood have always had a common theme of sexuality. With symbolism of the color red, the way that Little red riding hood talks to strangers (the wolf) the interactions involved as well as her curiosity.
When the beginning of Little Red Riding Hood started circling france it was a tale mostly about prostitutes.“Taken together with the known practices and beliefs of French society at that time, the tale reveals a social order in which women required masculine protection and guidance. Any female who chose to be alone placed herself outside the social norm. In the case of Red Riding Hood, an unnatural independence can be seen to have resulted in prostitution and witchcraft.(chase)” This piece of evidence shows how in french society during the time of Little Red Riding Hood those who were considered Little Red were actually considered prostitutes. This is important because woman who were prostitutes or were out seeking sex were expressing their sexuality giving them the label as little red riding hood.
The description that little red riding hood and wolf have are meant to imply indication of sexual desire. For example “In other fairy tales, sexuality flourishes only cryptically. But in “Little Red Riding Hood,” it is almost impossible to see the wolf wishes as harmless or to overlook the heroines sex appeal.(mallet)” The way the wolf looks at Little Red implies a lot on how his stares are that a man gives to a woman. The wolf is supposed to signify the animalistic behavior that lust brings when it comes to sexuality. The wolf is staring at Little Red hoping to take advantage of “Little” Red. With this being stated it supports the claim that sexuality is a big piece of this fairy tale and is usually mentioned to express sexuality. The wolf’s desire to have her take off her clothes during the fairy tale supports how he is expressing sexuality.
Each adaptation of Little Red Riding Hood has a similar tale but sexuality is expressed as well. The story of the little red riding hood is known mostly for how sexulity of Little Reds is always there. Each beast or stranger that each different version of little red comes around to, she eventually speaks to the stranger showing a sense of curiosity although she has been told to not speak to strangers.With this is in mind she does so anyway due to her sexual interest/curiosity in the beast/wolf that they have to offer.
There is always a mention of Little Reds innocence being lost due to her curiosity. While Little Red is expressing sexuality it is only because of her curiosity in it. She enters the woods as a little girl and on her way in she is changed. When showing impurity red is usually used to symbolize this.Little Red isn’t given a name since she is known for her sexual desire hence the name Little Red Riding Hood. With her innocence gone and left with what she learned in the woods it is as if her name was taken from her name and replaced with that.
Sexuaility is shown during the tale of “The Company Of Wolves” during Little Reds conversation with the hunter/wolf a bet is made to see who can get to grandma’s house the fastest. The winner would get a kiss from the other. Little Red agreed to this hoping she would get there second to kiss the hunter/wolf. Upon the arrival the wold who has disguised himself as grandma has her strip and while Little Red does she by now knows it is the wolf and decides to anyways. She is doing this exploring her sexuality and seeking out something that is exciting her. Although she doesn’t want to be eaten she wants to see how this goes as well. This further proves how little red riding hood is about expressing sexuality.
“CharlesPerrault and the Grimm Brothers transformed an oral folk tale about the social initiation of a young woman into a narrative about rape in which the heroine is obliged to bear the responsibility for sexual violation. Such a radical literary transformation is highly significant because the male-cul-tivated literary literary versions became dominant in both the oral and literary traditions of nations such as Germany, France, Great Britain, and the United States, nations which exercise cultural hegemony in the West.(Jack Zipes)” This quote taken from Zipes’ article expresses how a woman expressing sexuality or in this case initiating isn’t seen as something good. In France, Germany, the United states and the west it is supposed to be the man initiating. This idea has been made so that the story of Little Red Riding Hood is made after those women who shared their sexuality. The woman who shared their wants of sexuality was portrayed as Little Red being curious to explore having sex. Men dominated in literacy and oral traditions and so it was spread as this.
Each story of Little Red Riding Hood comes back to a common theme of sexuality being expressed as well as some wolf or some creature wanting o\to enforce that on to Little Red. However others would argue that Little Red was out seeking for sexual events going through the woods to meet someone. When coming across the wolf she couldn’t resist and instead of being seen as innocent was actually someone looking to do this. The whole narrative of Little Red being innocent is then changed. From looking sweet and kind and wouldnt go out searching for sex to practically hoping she can run into someone as sexually deviant as her.
In conclusion the story of Little Red RI\iding Hood is based on sexuality being expressed. When exploring the history of Little Red Riding Hood it is known that women who expressed any form of sexuality were seen as a prostitute or improper hence Little red is made after them. The amount of innocence that Little Red has before she is looked by the wolf or beast is instantly taken once she is seen more as for sex appeal than a person. The story contains many forms of sexuality being shown through the wolf wanting to explore Little Red’s body to Little Red being curious and wanting to explore for herself. The fact of history making a tale after women who expressed their sexuality.
CITATIONS:
- Little Red Riding Hood: Werewolf and prostitute. By: Chase, Richard, Teasley, David, Historian, 00182370, Jun1995, Vol. 57, Issue 4
- Sciences. May/Jun84, Vol. 24 Issue 3, p50. 6p. 2 Color Photographs, 2 Black and White Photographs.
- “50 Shades of Red: Sexuality and Loss of Innocence in Little Red Riding Hood.” #FolkloreThursday, 27 July 2017, folklorethursday.com/folktales/50-shades-red-sexuality-loss-innocence-little-red-riding-hood/.
- https://mozart.radford.edu/winesett/MollieDudleyProject.pdf
- The bloody chamber- the company of wolves
- Trials and tribulations by jack zipe
