Ever Changing Little Red Riding Hood Part 1

How does each version differ in its view/representation of Red or the main character (and, by extension, children/girls)? What lessons do the different versions offer?

We encounter several versions of this take in our book, and I'll take each one by one to make this hopefully simple in organization at least.

"The Story of Grandmother" is the first we encounter as a part of the introduction to this section. This is thought to be the story that inspired Charles Perrault's one story. This story shows red cloak, which perhaps suggests that though this girl is still young enough to stray the path and piddle about instead of staying on task, perhaps because she makes an escape and is never eaten, she actually is more mature than the girl in the cloak/cap of the later stories. Though she does undress as well as drinks and eats of her dead Granny's flesh, after seeing the werewolf close up, she plans her own escape and needs no helpful huntsman or father to rescue her. It's suggested in the reading that Granny's death and the girl's consumption is a sort of passing down of roles and responsibilities (pp 340), which looking back now I can certainly see. It's interesting that this is under the prompting of the werewolf, who is in a way helping her mature not just sexually, but in other fashions as well. This story gives the same lesson as many stories of Little Red Riding Hood; stay to your task and do not stray. Be aware of what's going on about you, especially strangers. However, as I mentioned before, this little girl is quick witted and saves herself despite her previous poor choices. That in itself is quite different and eliminates the need for a Huntsman or father figure, though here it is sure that the poor Granny is dead.

Charles Perrault's version "Little Red Riding Hood" is one of the best known version and with the presence of the red cloak/cap, it's best said this though inspired by the previous tale is for these purposes is the original. I have to admit, this isn't a version I've known in my life. Oddly, I had heard a version of "The Story of Grandmother." This version was aimed at upper class girls, probably those that might go about men and have no inclination of these creations true intentions. Here, Red Riding Hood is a girl given all she could want with no reason to fear the world around her, including a lovely red hood that makes her likely more attractive with its striking color and almost difficult for the wolf to avoid. Considering it was supposed to be "perfectly suited to her", one would think she was of age and mindset to handle what it implies such as womanhood, but we see she is not as the wolf easily leads her to the longer path where she strays further to pick flowers and tricks her further once she arrives at her grandmother's house. Red Riding Hood is not as bright as the girl from the previous story, as she cannot get herself free of the situation and comes to be eaten. The mother again sends her daughter on this task with no warning and complete trust that she will accomplish this. While the girl thinks she's safe the entire time, and going to the home of her grandmother where she has known nothing but safety, the wolf changes this and uses the isolation against her. It's curious that there is no woodsman again, though this is not a story where the girl's sins are to be forgiven. The odd thing is that there are woodcutters mentioned near where the wolf and Little Red first meet. Perhaps their presence is suggesting that while others might be about, no one will simply worry about some poor foolish girl who happens to be stupid enough to chat with old wolves. The moral here is spelled out right at the end. Do not converse with old wolves, also meaning strange men that could easily take advantage of your naive and pure young self with their sly ways and seemingly kind words. I feel like more young girls should probably have read Perrault's version, but it's understandable that such a direct and somewhat violent version has been somewhat replaced by more tame things considering the way children's fiction has been going. I prefer this version.

The next version is one I know well. The Grimm brothers' tale of "Little Red Cap" is in my opinion much closer to the stories that circulate in these days. This story shows Little Red Cap as the girl we know well. She says she will follow her mother's directions not to stray and peek about her grandmother's house, but then is still led astray by the wolf as the previous girls had been. This Red Cap however realizes that something is not right in her grandmother's home when she enters, suggesting that she is realizing her folly, though too late to fix it. Though other girls have been trusting, Grimms' Red Cap even allows the wolf to accompany her for a time, thinking nothing strange of it. As a reader, this is shocking because he is not just some vulpine-father figure out to seduce her, but also a literal wolf. Her naiveté is obvious at this point almost more so than the previous girl. We also see this naiveté being made up for in a sort of second go for Red Cap and her grandmother. Once freed, Red Cap comes up with the sly plan that kills the creature instead of just allowing the Huntsman to do so, thus taking care of her own problems and growing. The moral here is to not disobey your parent and be careful who you trust. Trust I feel is a larger issue here than in Perrault's story; Mother has noticeably less trust in her daughter than previous tales as she warns her of what not to do, Red Cap has too much trust in the wolf, but loses this quickly once she gets to her grandmother's house, Grandmother doesn't even need a fake voice to believe the tricky wolf, the Huntsman rightfully trusts Red Cap's plan which kills the wolf as easily as he could have, and finally after learning their lesson, Grandmother and Red Cap trust each other enough to take care of the second wolf with no assistance.

Next is Charles Marelle's "The True History of Little Golden-hood" which in itself is definitely a change from the norm with the lack of red. The sound of this story is different, as though it's meant to be read aloud as opposed to read in a book. Our hooded heroine has a name, Blanchette, where as previously she was called by everyone by her lovely head coverings if anything at all, even by her mother and grandmother. Blanchette is still that girl that doesn't quite heed her mother and takes her time in her task, even conversing with the wolf that approaches like a dog as many a child might be more likely to trust. After again revealing her grandmother's exact location, she is still tricked to undress and to come to bed with this sly wolf. However, Blanchette noticed how like Friend wolf her poor Granny appeared and obviously knew something to be amiss, so she kept her hood on in protection. This was a smarter move than even she knew of course. Also noticeable is how instead of simply being eaten, this girl ducks down in fear, realizing her mistake and crying for her mama. This tale has a similar moral to those before; don't talk to strangers, which was specifically told to the child by her mother here. We also have a somewhat Christian and feminist take on things. Blanchette's enchanted golden hood saves her from the wolf, who dies in a dark, damp well, which draws the child to the light and warmth of Blanchette and her family as opposed to the dark evil that is the wolf. The feminine take is with how there is no male savior, only the male aggressor and the grandmother is the hero of the tale. This is a very different take from any other tales yet read.

The next is Walter De La Mare's take, classically titled "Little Red Riding-Hood" and is a takeoff of the Grimms' version with a sort of more humorous spin on some aspects. Red Riding-Hood is illustrated as being utterly vain and completely spoiled, begging for a red cloak just the same as an older woman's she had seen and envied. Obviously she's not mature enough to handle what this cloak implies as she just wants it because it's pretty. The child is also selfish, thinking she'll take all the treats she wants when she arrives at her sick Grannie's. She is even so absent minded here that she does not stray, but actually pauses to rest and falls asleep. Something can be said in her favor however, as she does fear the wolf at first, but quickly gives in to his charm. As the story ends, the moral of not straying and not forgetting the look of a wolf is restated, but this Red Riding-Hood is still as vain as ever.

Catherine Storr's version again names the hooded girl, "Little Polly Riding Hood." The characters here are actually aware of the existence of the original Little Red Riding Hood story, so it's hopeful that Polly will have learned from that tale. Polly is an incredibly sensible girl and the only truly fairytale factor of this story is the talking wolf. She knows that story this wolf has read and he cannot trick her because he's only attempting another wolf's tricks and failing miserably. Polly isn't caught off guard, and she shows no fear of the wolf, only confidence in her task and ease in something she's done often before. The moral here isn't quite the same as the other stories. Polly tells the wolf that life isn't a fairytale, which implies many things such as there is no one to save you should you falter besides yourself and that though there are always wolves, that doesn't mean you must always be caught by one. As we age, we see that the children in those old fairytales are sometimes shockingly silly and naive. I feel that Polly is a proper up-to-date little girl and a fine example of a modernized Red Riding Hood.

Ronald Dahl has an even more altered version of this fairytale in "Little Red Riding Hood and the Wolf." This Red Riding Hood is no victim either, much like Polly of the previous tale. She not only doesn't fall for the Wolfie's trick, she has a pistol hidden away that she uses to kill him and it's implied she even skins him for a coat later. Her vanity however still remains I feel, considering how she shows off her coat similar to how Blanchette showed off her red hood. This Red Riding Hood did everything on her own and was not about to be taken in by anyone. The moral isn't as much about Red Riding Hood here as it is about Wolfie. Not everything will go as you planned, and watch out for little girls with pistols in their knickers.

...Continued in Part 2...

The Red Riding Hood stories have evolved and changed drastically over time, but many things stay the same; the girl going to grandma's encounters a wolf. How she deals with it is up to her. As Red Riding Hood has progressed though, she continues to take actions into her hands.

[Page references are from The Norton Anthology of Children's Literature: The Traditions in English, 2005]