The earliest memories people have as children is being read or reading a fairy tale. Many of the fairy tales known are of beautiful princesses and a handsome prince that sweeps them away, but originally these so-called “fairy tales” were not so “happily ever after”, after all. Due to the original fairy tales being more gruesome and evolving, they have withheld the test of time. One fairy tale in particular that has withheld the test of time is “Rapunzel”, despite the fact it is supposed to be a happy and adventurous story, the truth behind the ending gruesome and unexpected. In the tale of “Rapunzel”, history, archetypal elements, and physiological values come together to give a message of the naiveness of a young and sheltered girl. In
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Rapunzel is locked in a tower at the age of twelve by the sorceress and each day the sorceress will come and shout, “Rapunzel, Rapunzel, let down your hair!”, then Rapunzel twisted her hair around a hook by her window and let the sorceress climbed up (Grimms’). Having been locked in a tower, Rapunzel is reverted to as a Damsel in Distress which ties into women being innocent and unable to defend themselves in the time period of Germany in 1812 and most of the world. The tower that Rapunzel is high up, made only with a single window and no stair cases. Using the tower to lock Rapunzel away symbolizes isolation, but as the prince finds where she is the tower turns into a sign of destruction when “the prince was overcome with grief, and in his despair he threw himself from the tower” (Ashliman). As the prince does this action the tower becomes the element of destruction. Escaping with his life, the prince wandered aimlessly after the horrific event of throwing himself out the window, which blinded him. As the prince is wandering aimlessly he hears a familiar voice, Rapunzel recognizes him and begins to cry of joy. Blinding the prince symbolizes how wealthy men of that era were “blinded” about the reality of others, peasants, living around them. While the tears represent the purity women were said to have during this time due to their said “innocence”. Each element, the tower, blindness, and the tears, represent a part of the society and what played a part in the message of the
Rapunzel is locked in a tower at the age of twelve by the sorceress and each day the sorceress will come and shout, “Rapunzel, Rapunzel, let down your hair!”, then Rapunzel twisted her hair around a hook by her window and let the sorceress climbed up (Grimms’). Having been locked in a tower, Rapunzel is reverted to as a Damsel in Distress which ties into women being innocent and unable to defend themselves in the time period of Germany in 1812 and most of the world. The tower that Rapunzel is high up, made only with a single window and no stair cases. Using the tower to lock Rapunzel away symbolizes isolation, but as the prince finds where she is the tower turns into a sign of destruction when “the prince was overcome with grief, and in his despair he threw himself from the tower” (Ashliman). As the prince does this action the tower becomes the element of destruction. Escaping with his life, the prince wandered aimlessly after the horrific event of throwing himself out the window, which blinded him. As the prince is wandering aimlessly he hears a familiar voice, Rapunzel recognizes him and begins to cry of joy. Blinding the prince symbolizes how wealthy men of that era were “blinded” about the reality of others, peasants, living around them. While the tears represent the purity women were said to have during this time due to their said “innocence”. Each element, the tower, blindness, and the tears, represent a part of the society and what played a part in the message of the