Everyone's familiar with the episode where the Prince comes and awakens Sleeping Beauty with a kiss; some people might be aware of older versions of the fairy tale that involve rape and childbirth; sensationalized articles and lists love to use those versions to shock people with the "real" and disturbing versions of classic tales.
While many of the older versions are indeed quite dark and disturbing, they don't all involve rape of an unconscious victim, and True Love's Kiss isn't always the solution in later tales. I used Surlalune's Sleeping Beauties Tales From Around the World book to gain a few different examples of how the Princess is actually awakened.
Going back to Norse mythology, the story of Brunhild (from the late late 13th century) is similar to a Sleeping Beauty tale. In it, the bravery of the hero Siegfried allows him to pass through the dangers and get close to Brunhild (although he doesn't actually do anything, the "vile flames fled in shame and dismay before the pure sunbeam flashes from Greyfell's mane"-so the real secret to heroism is apparently having a magical horse). Once there, he gives Brunhild a gentle kiss on the forehead (not even the lips) and softly calls her name, giving us the picture of an absolute gentleman. I find it ironic that this possibly oldest version of the tale is the closest to the Disney in terms of the stereotypical hero riding in on his horse, braving dangers, and saving the day with a kiss. From there we depart from that ideal-
It's the French story of Troylus and Zelladine from Perceforest, from some time in the 13th or 14th century, that we get to some of the horrific parts of the story. We read a description of how Troylus tries to resist temptation around the beautiful sleeping girl, but just can't help following "the tenets of Venus"-at least this version describes his actions as cowardly, and perhaps tries to justify it a little because Troylus "speaks a long discourse begging forgiveness for his grand liberties." Yet nine months later Zelladine gives birth to a son, who grabs her finger in an attempt to suckle, and suckles so hard that he sucks out the sleep thorn that kept her enchanted.
There are other, less well known Medieval stories which involve a maiden under an enchanted sleep. In almost all of them she is taken advantage of. In Pandragus et Libanor, the maiden is in an unnatural sleep, does not wake up during the night in question, but simply wakes up normally the next day. In Brother of Joy and Sister of Pleasure, the "hero" manages to wake the woman he impregnated with the help of a bird who gives a magic herb to the maiden. This is one of the rare stories in which the woman actually gets upset to find she has been taken advantage of (Zelladine also felt devastated upon waking)-most sleeping beauties seem strangely silent, even happy, to find themselves awakened with a strange lover and/or child-although in this story she does eventually grow to love her rapist (There are good reasons these stories aren't so well known today). Lastly, in the adventures of Blandin de Cornoalha the Knight, we find a chivalrous hero who is more like Siegfried-he falls in love but does not appear to succumb to temptation; rather breaks the enchantment through bravery; he learns he must defeat a serpent, obtain a white hawk, and bring the hawk to the side of the maiden.
Basile's Sun, Moon, and Talia (early 1600s) is very similar to "Troylus and Zelladine"-the only difference being that it is twins who suck the flax from her fingernail and not a single baby. It is this version which also introduces the next violent episode, with the attempted cannibalism of the children. In this version it's a little more understandable, though, because it's the Prince's wife that grows furious when she discovers the truth.
From there we move away from raping/nursing babies as the primary cause of awakening. In Perrault's 1697 classic version, the prince finds the princess and kneels at her side (no kiss) just as the 100 years of her curse happen to be ending, so his part in everything is pretty simple. Once the Princess awakes, they simply talk together for four hours, so it's perhaps the best example of love in a Sleeping Beauty tale. The brambles parted to let him through, so while he wasn't quite the brave knight in shining armor, it would have been pretty creepy to continue as the thorns closed again behind him and then again as he walked through the castle where everyone was eerily unconscious, so we'll give him credit for that. The cannibalism episode follows, only now it's the Prince's mother that is an ogress and wants to eat her grandchildren
In the Italian Sun, Pearl, and Anna, the hero simply removes a spindle from the grasp of the sleeping Anna. They have children together (followed by the cannibalistic mother in law again) but at least it's consensual; I find this transition (or lack thereof) to be downright humorous: "'How are you today, Anna?' 'Very well, thank you. And how are you, your majesty?' 'I'm well.' By the end of nine months, the girl was great with child."
There's another very brief, tragic Italian tale called The Son of a King in which the queen mother actually succeeds in cooking and eating her grandchildren and daughter in law (there is no mention of awakening or the princess actually being found asleep in this one, just that she was found in a deserted castle).
In the Grimm's Briar Rose, once again the hedge parts for our hero (but this time the hedge is filled with corpses from others who attempted to pass before the time was up), and we have a Princess awakened with a kiss for the first time since Siegfried and Brunhild.
The Grimms also have another Sleeping Beauty tale, The Glass Coffin. I thought I had never read it before but it turns out not only had I read it, I wrote a whole post on it 5 years ago. This is why I have a blog...my memory is terrible! Anyway, it's a fascinating tale in which a Princess was cursed to sleep in a glass coffin because she spurned the advances of an evil magician-she had even attempted to shoot him but the bullet bounced off of him! A traveling tailor discovers her, and all he had to do was look at her, and she woke up and instructed him on how to open the coffin and free her. Afterwards, she gave him a "friendly kiss on his lips." This one wins the award for the most active female heroine!
In the Austrian The Enchanted Sleep, although the count's son does kiss the sleeping maiden, it doesn't appear to awaken her right away. He had also the foresight to write her a letter, which she later used to summon him to her, and also prove his innocence and his brothers' treachery (they had actually killed him, but animals he had helped along his journey came and healed him).
The Story of The Prince in Love is from Egypt, but bears similarities to older tales, particularly the cursed flax under the fingernail being what causes the sleep. Here, fortunately, the prince simply finds and removes the flax, and it's only after she wakes up that he spends forty days and nights with her in bed-although no children result from it. The prince is eventually a jerk to her though, so she decides to teach him a lesson-disguises herself with more beauty and causes him to fall in love with her again, but spurns his gifts, and will only marry him if he pretends to be dead and is himself carried around in a coffin. I'm not sure shy she wants to marry a man who thinks he's cheating on her, but it is interesting that he must have his own sort of "enchanted sleep" before they unite.
There's also The Petrified Mansion from India, in which the prince finds a stick of gold and just happens to touch the Princess' head with it, which revives her and the rest of the mansion's inhabitants. The curse was brought on by a stick of silver, so gold was the antidote-and the same gold stick later healed the Prince's parents, who were mourning their missing son.
So rather than bravery, many medieval Princes took advantage of sleeping princesses. Later, most Princes became more respectful of the enchanted women, who seemed more likely to be revived by chance than from getting a magical kiss. Some of the tales make us feel uncomfortable to read today, yet some were pretty feminist, featuring strong and brave women, and men who had self control. What other versions of Sleeping Beauty and methods of awakening are there? (I didn't even touch on Snow White tales here...)
Illustrations-A. H. Watson (first two), Millicent Sowerby (last two)
I have heard of one Male sleeping beauty example, although it be considered a male equivalent of Snow White. Here is one site of this fairy tale
ReplyDeletehttps://www.theguardian.com/books/2009/oct/13/fairytales-the-sleeping-prince
What a fantastic tale! That one deserves its own post! Thanks for sharing. Do you happen to know the source? I can't find one
DeleteI wasn't familiar with this story, either! Love it, thank you! I remember reading another sleeping prince story somewhere though, I want to say it was in Angela Carter's Book of Fairy Tales but I'm not certain...
DeleteAlso jealous you have the SurLaLune Sleeping Beauties book, it's hard to come by now! I hadn't heard of Sun, Pearl, and Anna. I take it the spindle is significant in putting Anna to sleep, too? And is the sleep foretold/given to her as a curse like in some other stories?
I know I was shocked to see that the Surlalune Sleeping Beauties book is priced at $473 on Amazon!! And a lot of the texts aren't available online for copyright reasons, sadly.
DeleteIn Sun, Pearl, and Anna, a soothsayer predicted that the Princess would touch a spindle and fall under an enchantment when she turned 13-but for no apparent reason (no fairy was insulted or anything). She is kept underground but her nurse was still allowed to have a spindle there for some reason, and one day she was spinning when she thought the Princess was asleep, and of course she touched it out of curiosity. (Then there's also a part where her father has three dresses made for her, the dresses she would have had for her wedding day, and had her dressed in all three, one on top of the other...that part was alarmingly reminiscent of Donkeyskin to me!)
Yes so expensive! I hope they reprint it sometime, strange that it's so rare compared to the others! That's really interesting, kind of like Sun, Moon & Talia with no slighted fairy then and the dresses are very Donkeyskin-esque indeed! Does it have the extra bit with the children and the cannibalistic mother/wife? From the title I'm guessing Sun and Pearl are the children?
DeleteAlso I found another source of the sleeping prince fairy tale. Apparently it's Spanish: http://www.uexpress.com/tell-me-a-story/2010/2/14/the-sleeping-prince-a-spanish-fairytale
DeleteYes, Sun and Pearl are the children, and the queen also wants to eat them. Only in this one, Anna was suspicious of sending her children to her, unlike Talia who was glad to send her children to her mother in law. And as the queen demands Anna take off her clothes to boil her, each time Anna took off a dress (she still has the three dresses on from her father, years later) they made pealing noises that sound like church bells, and the Prince heard and came to the rescue.
DeleteAnd, thanks for looking that up!
Sounds like Anna is a bit wiser than Talia, then! And ahh I'd heard mention of the bells before relating to Sun, Moon and Talia but never found a version of the story which included them. So that explains it then, must have been Sun, Pearl and Anna instead!
DeleteAnd no worries, it would be nice to find a more solid source for it though. I'll keep looking & let you know if anything turns up :)
Hi, thanks for your lovely post. The source for the Sleeping Prince can be found in Alison Lurie's book "Clever Gretchen and Other Forgotten Folktales" (a fantastic book anyway). Apparently it's based on the story from a 1955 French collection by Paul Delarue, which was the translation from a Spanish collection of 1886 by Sergio Hernandez de Soto. What a brilliant story!
ReplyDeleteThank you!! I should check out that book!
Deletemba assignment help malaysia offer Custom and Professional Assignment Writing Help to both College and University students who are stuck with their research projects, essays, case studies, business reports and need Urgent Assignment Help.
ReplyDeleteSolving practice sets improve a learner’s mind and so myperdiscohelp.com brought up unsolved myob practice set solutionto appraise and test their comprehension of the subject matter. We guarantee you will get first-class, high-quality, well-framed MYOB practice sets.
ReplyDeleteGet all kinds of assignment writing help at one place. We can provide instant UML assignment help at an affordable prices.
ReplyDeleteNice post. I used to be checking constantly this blog and I am impressed! Extremely useful info particularly the ultimate section 🙂 I take care of such information a lot. I was seeking this certain information for a long time. Thank you and best of luck.
ReplyDeleteEssay on ecosystem restoration
Homework Help provides a solution with your clicks and that of professional and experienced teachers online. You have no doubt about the appropriateness of the help. No need to wander from classrooms to physical classes, all topic help is available under one blanket.
ReplyDeleteResearch team: This group is liable for picking the best point for your dissertation and afterward completing the investigates on the subject to get a powerful and elaborate assignment that has sensible and articulate data. The examination group is the person who initially accept your request subtleties when you benefit our administrations. cdr writing services
ReplyDeleteI have been looking forward to having someone I can rely on, in terms of information, and the information I have gotten from this blog. fukashere cut off mark for computer science
ReplyDeleteI felt good to read your post and make the humble request to carry on this post in the upcoming time.Hence, you can stay on this page to see what is happening and Order Now from Best Online Assignment Helper, a global provider of assignment help, including nursing help, engineering help, and management help.
ReplyDeleteWe offer you on-time conveyance for polynomial math assignment administration on the web. Here, you can contact the mathematician to know the updates of your assignment or you can check it online through the novel connection gave to you. my assignment help
ReplyDeleteI'm so happy to finally find your blog post.
ReplyDeleteThanks for create this an amazing blog post...
biochemistry homework Help
This is an amazing read, it shows that you actually know what you are talking about, thanks a lot for sharing the elucidated contents. coe-minna cut off mark for home economic
ReplyDeleteI admire your fantastic, fact-filled advice in this blog. It’s clearly and valid ideas shared; I believe its useful world while. Thank you for sharing. visit crypto news today
ReplyDeleteSeeking for the Assignment Help Sydney? If yes then have a look here.
ReplyDeleteI am very thankful to you that you shared these news with us. your article was such a superb article its too fabulous. follow this
ReplyDeleteVPN for PUBG Mobile
link for make your day intresting.
Best online instalment loans for Bad Credit of April 2022 Installment loans for bad credit can be less risky and more affordable than payday loans. Beware of those that don't check your credit or charge triple-digit interest rates.
ReplyDeleteentrepreneurs profit
market multiple valuation
factors improve brain
manage personal finance
outfit styling
home decor accessories
real meaning holidays
adventure travel actually
learning style fashion
ReplyDeletehome improvement tips
education tax credits
online shopping popular
shopping center challenging
natural health supplements
foreclosure investing pros
characteristics good policy
fitness equipment exercise
most recent tech
design information technology
ReplyDeleteonline games probably
home improvement lifestyle
properties family vacation
trading portfolio management
important business pillars
fast news time
trending courses innovation
top business icon
family game snacky
daily out fit idea
ReplyDeleteyouth beauty tips
latest news cast
present day news
mini big news
news room broadcast
softwares watch
tech globally
prime news cast
metro city express
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI'm not an Internet reader, but I really like your site.Come on! I'll bookmark your site so I can come back later. Good luck.
ReplyDelete토토사이트링크
토토사이트
우리카지노탑
카지노사이트
토토
스포츠토토핫
Thanks for picking out the time to discuss this, I feel great about it and love studying more on this topic. It is extremely helpful for me. Thanks for such a valuable help again. 경마
ReplyDeleteThis excellent website truly has all of the info I wanted concerning this subject and didn’t know who to ask.토토
ReplyDeleteGreat blog here! Additionally your website quite a bit up very fast! What web host are you the use of? Can I am getting your affiliate hyperlink on your host? Feel free to visit my website;
ReplyDelete스포츠토토
ticles. I am a antique ’Article’ collector and I sometimes read some new articles if I find them interesting. And I found this one pretty fascinating and it should go into my collection. Very good work! A great website with interesting and unique material what else would you need. 해외토토사이트
ReplyDeleteI felt extraordinarily upbeat while perusing this web page. This become honestly highly educational website online for me. I definitely favored it. This became actually a welcoming submit. An awful lot preferred! Thanks again for all the information you distribute,right publish. I was very inquisitive about the thing, it's pretty inspiring i ought to admit. I love touring you web site since i always come upon exciting articles like this one. Amazing task, i greatly appreciate that. Do maintain sharing! Regards . Positive website, wherein did u come up with the information in this posting? I've read the various articles to your internet site now, and that i definitely like your fashion. Thank you one million and please maintain up the effective paintings. A very first rate web page. 온라인카지노 후기
ReplyDeleteeep us up to date . Hiya i am so delighted i positioned your blog, i in reality located you by mistake, while i used to be looking on google for something else, anyhow i'm right here now and will much like to mention thank for a splendid submit and a all round exciting internet site. 먹튀검증업체
ReplyDeleteThank you for posting this once more. Please permit me know if you’re searching out a article author for your website. You have got some genuinely tremendous posts and i sense i would be a good asset. 토토코드
ReplyDeleteIf I a talking about tattoo, first name is come in mind hardy sandhu tattoo
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteFranchise Business in Hyderabad - Lassi N Shakes, a yogurt-based franchise business, is now open in Hyderabad! This is a great opportunity for those who are looking to start their own business or to invest in a franchise. Lassi N Shakes offers a variety of flavors and toppings, and is a healthy alternative to other fast food options.
ReplyDeleteThis is very auspicious post; I’ve joined your rss feed and sit up for in quest of extra of your fantastic post. Thank you for the great work. Click oau jupeb past questions for medicine
ReplyDeleteI truly appreciate your efforts. Best Assignment Experts is conscious of the different requirements of students from Australia, the United Kingdom, Britain, Australia and Canada. There are more than 300 institutions that have standards for high-quality education within these nations However, there are distinct requirements that apply to Make e my Assignment. We can fulfil every request and requirement of all students so that only the best grades appear on the reports of every student.
ReplyDeleteAssignment Expert
It is important to pick the right topic in order to complete the assignment within the time limit. Students don't know what it is to write or what to leave out.
ReplyDeleteMy Assignment help
Visit here:- My Assignment Experts
As an academic writer for the over 5 years, I provide assistance with writing assignments to university and college students. I am also a part of the the myassignmentexperts platform. I am committed to offering the best academic writing online services to students in college with the lowest cost.
ReplyDeleteMy Assignment Experts
토토사이트추천
ReplyDelete100 million won for an old, used Birkenstock? "Who is the owner?"
Thank you for sharing your blog.
ReplyDeleteContinue to share content like this blog.
In this blog, you have provided very good information to all of us. Please continue to share blogs like this one.
amazon case study assignment help
Our kids loves such tales alot.
ReplyDeleteWe are Children's Park, the best Preschool and Daycare in Rockwall , Texas, USA.
Sleeping beauty and snow white are some of the all time favorite tales of any kid. People might involve some rubbish things in these stories which is totally unacceptable.
ReplyDeleteWe are Stonebridge Academy, a professional daycare and Preschool in Mckinney, Texas dedicated to making your life easier by providing world-class services.
All these stories are really beautiful in actual, but some peoples makes them dirty by putting their useless and dirty creativity.
ReplyDeleteChildren's Park North best place for your new-born, toddlers, and Kids Daycare in Rockwall Preschool in Rockwall.
Thanks for this informative blog. This information is new for us.
ReplyDeleteThe Apex Academy is a well-known daycare and preschool in North Richland Hills, Texas, USA that provides age-appropriate childcare programs for children of all ages.
There is so much wonderful information here, thank you!!
ReplyDeletedivorcio de virginia sin oposición
amazingly great man , thanks total138
ReplyDeleteI was looking to buy real estate property, suddenly landed on this page and I found this blog very helpful and informative. Thanks for sharing
ReplyDeleteReal estate in dubai
Rise of dubai real estate
Insights of dubai real estate
Dream city dubai
Magic of dubai real estate
Success of dubai real estate
Luxury real estate in dubai
Dubai skycrapers
Dubai city of gold
Perfect property in dubai
In addition to his directing skills, parmish verma biography is also a talented singer. He released his debut song "Aa Le Chak Main Aa Gaya" in 2017, which received a tremendous response from the audience.
ReplyDeleteproject management assignment help organising, inspiring, and managing resources to accomplish particular objectives within an organisation is the discipline of aid. A project is generally a venture with a clear beginning and finish that is undertaken to fulfil certain aims and objectives, usually to bring about positive improvements or additional value.
ReplyDeleteI appreciate the time and effort you put into this piece. The content is well-written, thorough, and engaging. I found the analysis and conclusions to be compelling and thought-provoking. The article provides an intriguing perspective on the subject. I learned a lot from reading this article. Continue to share.
ReplyDeleteAbogado Familia Cerca Mi Iselin NJ
Abogados Familia Cerca Mi Iselin NJ
Perico Ripico Tours: Where adventure meets tranquility! Embark on an unforgettable journey with Perico Ripico Tours, your gateway to breathtaking destinations and extraordinary experiences. From vibrant rainforests to pristine beaches, their expert guides will lead you through hidden gems, allowing you to immerse yourself in the wonders of nature. With Perico Ripico Tours, every moment is a discovery, and every memory is etched with awe.
ReplyDeleteExcursion dominican republic Punta Cana
Jade Homes introduced an advanced FAR calculator. Quickly determine the permissible floor area for your construction project based on local regulations. Trust Jade Homes for precise calculations and optimal space utilization.
ReplyDeleteTransform your workforce with our dynamic corporate training programs at the Institute of purpose.
ReplyDeleteUnlock the Secrets of Mindfulness: A Journey to Inner Peace. Discover how mindfulness can transform your life, one breath at a time. Embrace the present moment and find serenity in the chaos, as you explore the profound impact of mindfulness on your well-being.
ReplyDeleteAmd Electric Ltd/
ReplyDelete“You are so entrancing! I figure I haven’t actually examined anything indistinct at this point.
It’s remarkable to discover somebody who has an admitted thought on this point.
ReplyDeleteLos Angeles-based Awaken Beauty offers hair and cosmetics services for weddings. This company, which boasts a group of exceptional hair and makeup artists, is dedicated about delivering customers the marriage makeovers of their dreams. Owner Josiah is an expert beautician with a reputation for his unmatched markup artistry abilities, originality, and attention to detail. ¿Cuál es la ley de divorcio en Nueva Jersey?
ReplyDeleteTransform your space with expert Wallpaper Installation in Melbourne, Australia by Divine Interiors. Elevate your interior design. Contact us today for a stunning makeover!
ReplyDeleteIt’s hard to find quality writing like yours nowadays.
ReplyDeleteI really appreciate individuals like you! Take care!!
ReplyDeletePlease keep us informed like this. Thank you for sharing. Feel free to visit my website;
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing this information how much are reckless driving tickets in virginia
ReplyDeleteI must mention that after finding your posts on Google, I'm rather impressed with the content. They are written in such an interesting way and are thought-provoking and educational. It is absolutely admirable how willing you are to offer your knowledge and ideas. I want to thank you for your commitment to share your knowledge with all of us since I really believe that information is the key to realizing our greatest potential. For further high-quality articles, I strongly suggest Do My Assignment Online It features a vast array of intelligent and instructive articles covering a range of subjects.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely mesmerizing! This blog beautifully captures the essence of awakening beauty. The vivid imagery and poetic prose are enchanting. If you seek inspiration, dive into this enchanting realm. For academic support, explore Management Assignment Help at Assignment Help Pro.
ReplyDeleteNeed assignment help in the UK? Sample Assignment UK offers reliable assistance for students facing academic challenges. Our expert team provides top-notch assignments tailored to your needs. With our support, you can excel in your studies and achieve your academic goals. Visit Sample Assignment UK for trusted assignment help in the UK.
ReplyDeleteYour tips for scoring high in Holmes exams have completely transformed my approach to studying! I've always struggled with standardized tests, but your blog post has given me hope and confidence like never before. What resonates with me most is the emphasis on critical thinking skills and effective time management – two areas where I've often fallen short. Your practical advice is like a roadmap guiding me through the complexities of Holmes exams with clarity and precision. I've already started implementing your strategies, and I can feel a newfound sense of purpose and determination. Read about Top 10 Tips to Score High in Holmes.
ReplyDeletenice blog,had great time reading this.A Fairfax criminal defense attorney provides skilled representation for individuals facing criminal charges, ensuring their rights are protected throughout the legal process. With a deep understanding of local laws, they work diligently to achieve the best possible outcomes for their clients.Criminal Defense Attorney Fairfax
ReplyDelete