Human beings have all, at some point during their lives, felt as though they have been placed in some sort of metaphorical box. They removed themselves from this construct and experienced freedom after realizing that the box serves no need. Experiencing an indescribable amount of peace where even for a slight moment, nothing or no one can tear one down. Although immediately afterwards the person is transported back to reality. Multiple facts and factors surround the individual bringing them to the point of no return. In “Little Red Riding Hood” by the Grimm Brothers and “Little Red Cap” by Charles Perrault, the mother, the wolf, and the authors are all to blame for the lost innocence found in the stories which affect young readers’ lives. 

Within “Little Red Riding Hood”, the protagonist is taken advantage of through the temptation of the naïve. Having reread this fairytale readers see her as a young naive girl. In the fairytale “Little Red Riding Hood,”  Charles Perrault, in a detailed manner, expresses that “The poor child, who did not know that it is dangerous to stay and listen to a wolf, told him: ‘I am going to see my grandmother, and I’m taking her a bun and a little pot of butter that my mother is sending me with.’” Seeing the good in others as the main character does in this version demonstrates the lack of sensible development. Affecting her inability to distinguish between good and bad. Leaving readers questioning what is this temptation? 

This hidden message of temptation can be seen as in the article fairy tales are psychological mirrors that help us develop a deeper understanding of ourselves. They are intentionally loaded with symbolism to reveal more meanings, as readers become more aware of themselves through these stories (Young). The more you read into it the more complex it becomes . The older we become the more experiences we go through in life, causing us to see it from a perspective  and that there is more to blame then one expected. 

In what ways is Little Red Riding Hood’s mother to blame for exploitation of innocence? There is a saying that mothers tend to know what’s best for us. Parents’ responsibility is their children. They are the first to teach them what’s right from wrong and the meaning of values.  Besides this a tendency is protecting them, a form of this is shielding from the reality of life. It’s understood that this was exactly what the protagonist’s mother did. Overbearing her which is understandable, but to what extent is it appropriate. In the story “Little Red Cap” by Brothers Grimm, it states.“One day her mother said to her: “Come, Little Red Cap, take this piece of cake and bottle of wine and bring it to your grandmother. She’s sick and weak, and this will strengthen her. Be nice and good and greet her from me. Go directly there and don’t stray from the path, otherwise you’ll fall and break the glass, and your grandmother will get nothing.” Irresponsibly believing that Little Red Cap would only be attentive to not falling and breaking the glass. But no thought went into if she got distracted. No practical warning that a mother would give.  Though she might have trusted her daughter, she mistakenly put that same trust in the world.  

Not worrying about her surroundings, her mind was so focused on one thing that all things passed her by. The main character wants to be introduced to a new discovery. The fascination with the wolf is a risk, it’s necessary to be warned (Antonelli 109).This is a conversation that her mother should have warned her about. Showing her that there are two sides of life. Her mother can’t actually specify every single detail, but being kept in a bubble, it creates a culture shock and makes one make impartial decisions.

  The antagonist of this fairytale creates controversies. Like in every fairytale, the main character encounters someone or thing  who causes them to face challenging situations.The wolf is this character who instigated the conflict throughout the story. Persuading the young girl to speak to him and reveal her whereabouts. Later on harmed and pretended to be the grandmother. With an unexplainable reason of just because. It’s interpreted that the wolf is at fault. The author as well acknowledges it. He explored her innocence, taking her kindness for weakness.  In Perrault’s version, he writes, “They’re not as friendly as they might appear: These are the most dangerous wolves of all.” Perrault states that his appearance would serve as a warning, yet a simple conversation dismissed any evil ideologies.

Many authors have different ways of expressing themselves through their text. After analyzing the writing styles of both the Grimm Brothers and Perrault, it is clear that the authors intended to write this for a certain audience.  It begs the question, what made them add or remove certain details? That as the older readers get they begin to rethink their childhood. A prime example is when in “Little Cap,” Perrault states  “He began to slip from the roof and fell right into the big trough and drowned. Then Little Red Cap went happily and safely to her home.”  Real life doesn’t always conform to the concept that good always prevails. This kind of creation was captivating. because the little red cap returned home while the wolf  died. Real life doesn’t always conform to the notion that good always prevails. This method of creating the illusion was interesting. This can demonstrate the author’s emotional state. 

This ultimately is setting us up for failure in life and creating social problems in society. Growing up through these fantasies makes it hard to depict reality. Causing defects that tragically carries on to adulthood. The author Kay Stone explains that the words of the author cut deeper than anticipated. Including a 24 year old who lived a dream of turning to Cinderella and it never came to happen (49). It’s very frustrating to see that this is something not only common in fairytales, but in our daily lives, especially with young girls. Not having this sense of treatment makes them feel worthless and question their whole identity. 

We see this through a secondary source that explains female cultural principles that highlight submission, vulnerability, and self-sacrifice may be subconsciously transferred by women from fairy tales to real life. As a result of female oppression (Rowe 237). Creating an understanding of fairy tales creates the defeats of one’s self confidence. Causing frustration with life because it is not the outcome of as we see in fairy tales. Possibly leading us to a long life of resentment and molding our thoughts. 

On the contrary, positive  development in more times than comes from tales creates a health foundation. Tatar Maria in “Why Fairy Tales Matter: The Performative and the Transformative”  states “The child reading fairy tales enters Elsewhere to learn language and master the linguistic conventions that allow adults to do things with words, to produce effects that are achieved by saying something” (63). I agree that it’s important for kids to have a basic understanding of languages that help them grow and learn to communicate in adulthood. But at th3e cost of lying … What kind of person wants children to think it’s ok to lie? Parents always want the kids to tell the truth, but there are the root of the problems when reading them the stories. Despite this author revealing a great argument, it’s nonsense. Overall, the battle over blaming isn’t specified to one character. But to one in specific, the  mother. The wolf robbed the main character’s purity, the Grimm’s brothers and Perrualt challenged readers through their writing styles, affecting the audience in a negative way that isn’t seen until later in life. This childhood favorite should be stayed away to avoid a disturbance of a lifetime. Consider this as a warning that  “Little Red Riding Hood” and “Little Red Cap”  overtime will leave you in shambles if not read with caution.

Works Cited 

Antonelli. “Little Red Riding Hood: Victimage in Folktales and Cinema—A Case Study.” Contagion, vol. 22, no. 1, 2015, pp. 107–32, https://doi.org/info:doi/.

Johnson, Faye R., and Carole M. Carroll. “‘Little Red Riding Hood’ Then and Now.” Studies in Popular Culture, vol. 14, no. 2, 1992, pp. 71–84. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/45018122. Accessed 24 Oct. 2022.

 Perrault, Charles. “Little Red Riding Hood.” Folk and Fairy Tales. Eds. Martin Hallett and Barbara Karasek.

 Rowe. “Feminism and Fairy Tales.” Women’s Studies., vol. 6, no. 3, 1979, pp. 237–57, https://doi.org/info:doi/.

Stone, Kay. “Things Walt Disney Never Told Us.” The Journal of American Folklore, vol. 88, no. 347, 1975, pp. 42–50. JSTOR, https://doi.org/10.2307/539184. Accessed 24 Oct. 2022.

Tatar, Maria. “Why Fairy Tales Matter: The Performative and the Transformative.” Western Folklore, vol. 69, no. 1, 2010, pp. 55–64. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/25735284. Accessed 17 Nov. 2022.

The Brothers Grimm ; illustrated by Lisbeth Zwerger ; translated from the German by Elizabeth D. Crawford. Little Red Cap. New York :North-South Books, 1995. Young, Jonathan. “How Fairy Tales Shape Our Lives.” How Fairy Tales Shape Our Lives, 1997, https://www.folkstory.com/articles/onceupon.html.