Rapunzel

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Recommended: Project gender roles in fairy tales

Rapunzel

I have always enjoyed this fairytale, about a young woman with exceptionally long hair who is kept prisoner in a tall tower by a sorceress. The Grim Bothers and Zelinky's version is very different from each other. Zelinsky retells the story in another way. He brings the story alive and I was able to experience in a whole new way. One thing for readers to remember is that many fairytales were originally for adults, so that is the why they may not always seem quite age appropriate. Zelinky's version relates that Rapunzel reveals that she has had a visitor in the tower when she asks the sorceress to help her with her dress for, "it is growing so tight around my waist, it does not want to fit me anymore." The sorceress discovering that Rapunzel is pregnant could be done in a more considerate way. In my opinion, it is inappropriate message to put in a story, especially for children. Grim Brothers describe the story in a more adequate way. The Grimm Brothers state that Rapunzel tells the step-mother without thinking, that why does she take so long climbing on the hair when the King's son only takes but a moment. The step-mother quickly reveals that Rapunzel is seeing some one. They do not relate the story stating she is pregnant, they mention almost at the end that Rapunzel had twins.

Both stories relate that a men and a woman had no children. The Grimm Brothers difference comes to mind that the couple is not able to conceive a child and in my interpretation is that maybe the witch puts a spell on the rampion in order for the women to get pregnant. In this version of the story it never states on when she got pregnant. So the witch maybe has a plan all along to get a child for herself because maybe she also can not have children. In the version of Zelinsky the couple is going to have a child but she starts cravings for rapunzel. Although her cravings are natural and understandable, the woman's behavior is selfish and spoiled. She is not willing to satisfy her urges through other things. She is endangering her health and the health of the unborn child with her behavior. Once again the woman is selfish and demanding behavior.

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