The story of Little Red Riding Hood is one of the most famous and beloved fairy tales in the world. However, few know that this narrative has deep roots and a much darker meaning compared to the sanitized version we know today.
Origins of the Fairy Tale
The first written version of Little Red Riding Hood dates back to the 17th century and was collected by Charles Perrault in his book "Tales of Mother Goose" (1697). However, the story has much older origins and is believed to have been passed down orally for centuries. The oral versions of the fairy tale were often more crude and violent, reflecting the harsh living conditions of past eras.
Perrault's Version
In Perrault's version, Little Red Riding Hood is a young girl who is tricked by a wolf while visiting her grandmother. The wolf eats the grandmother and then disguises himself as her to trick Little Red Riding Hood. The story concludes with the wolf eating the girl as well, with no happy ending. This version was clearly a cautionary tale for children, warning them of the dangers of the outside world.
The Brothers Grimm Version
The Brothers Grimm published a different version of the fairy tale in their book "Grimm's Fairy Tales" (1812). In this version, a hunter saves Little Red Riding Hood and her grandmother by cutting open the wolf's belly and freeing the two victims. This version has a happy ending but still maintains a dark and unsettling tone.
The Version of "Le Conte de la Mère-Grand"
One of the oldest and lesser-known versions of the fairy tale is "Le Conte de la Mère-Grand," collected by Achille Millien in the Nivernais region around 1870 and later published by Paul Delarue in his "Le Conte populaire français." Here is the full version translated into English:
The Tale of the Grandmother (Little Red Riding Hood)
There was a woman who had made some bread. She said to her daughter:
– You must take a hot loaf and a bottle of milk to your grandmother.
Off went the little girl. At the crossroads of two paths, she met the wolf who said to her:
– Where are you going?
– I am taking a hot loaf and a bottle of milk to my grandmother.
– Which path are you taking? said the wolf, the path of needles or the path of pins?
– The path of needles, said the little girl.
– Well! I will take the path of pins.
The little girl amused herself by picking up needles.
And the wolf arrived at the grandmother's house, killed her, put some of her flesh in the cupboard, and a bottle of blood on the shelf.
The little girl arrived and knocked at the door.
– Push the door, said the wolf. It is barred with a wet straw.
– Good day, Grandmother, I bring you a hot loaf and a bottle of milk.
– Put them in the cupboard, my child. Take some meat that is inside and a bottle of wine that is on the shelf.
While she was eating, there was a little cat that said:
– Phew!... Slut!... who eats the flesh and drinks the blood of her grandmother.
– Undress, my child, said the wolf, and come to bed with me.
– Where shall I put my apron?
– Throw it into the fire, my child, you have no more need of it.
And for all her clothes, the corset, the dress, the petticoat, the stockings, she asked him where to put them.
And the wolf answered: "Throw them into the fire, my child, you have no more need of them."
When she was in bed, the little girl said:
– Oh, Grandmother, how hairy you are!
– It is to keep myself warmer, my child!
– Oh! Grandmother, what big nails you have!
– It is to scratch myself better, my child!
– Oh! Grandmother, what big shoulders you have!
– It is to better carry my bundle of wood, my child!
– Oh! Grandmother, what big ears you have!
– It is to better hear, my child!
– Oh! Grandmother, what big nostrils you have!
– It is to better smell my tobacco, my child!
– Oh! Grandmother, what a big mouth you have!
– It is to better eat you, my child!
– Oh! Grandmother, what a hunger I have to go outside!
– Do it in bed, my child!
– Oh no, Grandmother, I want to go outside.
– Well, but not for long.
The wolf tied a wool thread to her foot and let her go. When the little girl was outside, she tied the end of the thread to a plum tree in the courtyard.
The wolf was getting impatient and said: “Are you making ropes? Are you making ropes?”
When he realized that no one was answering him, he threw himself down from the bed and saw that the little girl had escaped. He chased after her, but he arrived at her house just as she was entering.
This version reflects the harsh living conditions of rural communities and serves as a warning to children about the dangers of the outside world.
Gustave Dore - She was astonished to see how her grandmother looked
Connections Between Le Conte de la Mère-Grand and Gilles Garnier
The Figure of the Bzou and the Werewolf
- In the folk version collected by Delarue, the "wolf" is actually a bzou, a dialectal term for loup-garou (werewolf).
- The fear of werewolves was widespread in France between the 16th and 17th centuries, leading to many trials and executions for lycanthropy. Gilles Garnier is a notable example, and his legend may have influenced the tale’s narrative.
The Theme of Cannibalism
- In the folk tale, the little girl is tricked into eating her grandmother’s flesh.
- Gilles Garnier was accused of kidnapping and killing children to eat them. This macabre detail may have been incorporated into the fairy tale as a cautionary lesson, transforming real fears into a didactic story.
The Forest as a Place of Danger
- Traditional fairy tales often depict forests as perilous places where children risk getting lost or encountering evil creatures.
- Gilles Garnier lived on the fringes of society, in the woods, and attacked his victims when they ventured into the wilderness.
The Maiden Escaping the Ogre
- Unlike in Perrault's version, in Le Conte de la Mère-Grand, the little girl saves herself by outsmarting the bzou.
- This could reflect real-life cases where children managed to escape from human predators in the past.
Hidden Meanings
The story of Little Red Riding Hood has been interpreted in many ways over the centuries. Some scholars see the fairy tale as a metaphor for the loss of innocence and the transition from childhood to adulthood. The wolf represents the temptations and dangers of the outside world, while the red hood symbolizes the purity and innocence of the protagonist.
Others interpret the fairy tale as a warning against blind trust in strangers. The wolf, with his disguise, represents duplicity and deception, while Little Red Riding Hood learns an important lesson about caution and mistrust.
Evolution of the Fairy Tale
Over time, the story of Little Red Riding Hood has been adapted and modified to make it more suitable for children. Modern versions often omit the more gruesome and violent elements, focusing instead on the moral message of caution and trust. However, the dark roots of the fairy tale continue to influence our perception of the story.
The story of Little Red Riding Hood is much more than a simple children's fairy tale. Behind the narrative lie deep meanings and important lessons that still resonate today. Knowing the origins and interpretations of the fairy tale allows us to better appreciate the richness and complexity of this famous story.
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