Sunday, December 30, 2007

Bound (post 5)


So, I've finally finished Bound! I'm so pumped and excited to move on to the next book which is Briar Rose. However, before I can start that one I need to make at least one more post on Bound.

Chapters 26-29

So, Xing Xing goes down to the cave festival at the park. Mainly she is there just for the experience. She isn't looking to find a husband like Wei Ping is. Night has fallen and the ci sharing is about to start when Wei Ping and Stepmother spot a beautiful Xing Xing in the crowd which startles Xing Xing making her run off back to the cave. In the process she loses one of her mothers golden shoes...OH NO! When Wei Ping and Stepmother get home they find Xing Xing in her tattered rags and don't even suspect that she left the cave. So, now the shoe is lost and it travels from man to man who bids the highest until the price of it is so high that only the prince can afford it. He travels from town to town looking for the girl the shoe fits and he arrives to the Wu household last and when the shoe fits neither Wei Ping or Stepmother the Prince is completely downhearted. But, then Xing Xing gets the chance to prove that she is the girl from the cave festival and she and the prince leave together to live happily ever after.


Ok, here comes the important interesting stuff...

Xing Xing's shoe is golden unlike other versions. The slipper or shoe that the character wears reflects society's view of that person or type of person. In both the Grimm and Disney versions the slipper is glass, however in this version the slipper is golden. Glass is fragile and reflects the wearer as that and dainty, however in Bound Xing Xing's slipper is golden which is very valuable and not just in beauty, in smarts too. The Cinderella's in the Grimm and Disney versions are beautiful, but they are never displayed as intelligent unlike Xing Xing who tells the Prince what she wants and doesn't want, "I don't want to be bought or sold" (183) and other things about her, "My feet are not bound...[and] I don't have a dowry" (184). By doing this Xing Xing makes sure that the Prince really wants her as a wife not because she is beautiful, but because he has an interest in her as a person, a virtue that the Grimm and Disney Cinderella's did not have.

Something else I found really important is that, "...neither Stepmother nor Wei Ping ever looked at her. Not really. A change of clothes, and they didn't even recognize her." ( 166) showing that neither of them really saw anything special in Xing Xing, they just always assumed that she would be there. They didn't really see how intelligent she was or even what she looked like physically. It's the same as the Cinderellas in the other two versions because they were also not recognized at the balls they attended.

Also, this version is a little less gruesome, but like in the Grimm version both Wei Ping and Stepmother's feet do not fit the shoe because one's toe is to big and the other's heel is to big. However, they don't cut them off in order to try and get the shoe on. They don't seem as desperate as the stepsisters in the Grimm version.

Napoli like the Grimm brothers are trying to present the idea that when someone works towards something they'll get it in the end. Xing Xing wanted to get away from her Stepmother and she finally did. And, that intelligence is far more important than beauty. However, she doesn't present it in the violent and gruesome way that the Grimm brothers do.
Nicole

Wednesday, December 26, 2007

Bound (post 4)


So, it was a Wednesday morning during winter vacation when Nicole decided that it was time to once and for all try and get this book over with. =)

Chapters 21-25

After Xing Xing comes home from writing her ci she, Wei Ping, and Stepmother are seated around the kang eating dinner. It's a soup that has many ingredients including millet, mallow, reeds, and bamboo, "and fish, of course" (135). The next day Xing Xing goes down to the fresh water stream and calls for the fish, however no matter how much she calls for the fish it doesn't come. The fish in the soup is Xing Xing's mother fish. The fact that Stepmother would kill the girl's only friend and then feed it to her emphasizes that she is evil and even though she is being nice to Xing Xing by giving her the dress and "[delivering] fish to most of the families on [their] side of the hill" (133) she is still the Stepmother and because of that she is always up to no good. She most likely gave Xing Xing the job of writing the family ci for the festival as a way to get her out of the house so she could capture the fish and the fish she delivered to all the neighbors was probably part of the huge magic carp.

Also, throughout these chapters Xing Xing's ears keep buzzing and ringing. It happens whenever something unfortunate or terrible take place. It seems as though it is her mother and father trying to guide her from the dead. Like it's their spirits trying to help her along with life.

At the end of chapter 24 Xing Xing goes into the storeroom to hide the magic carp's bones that she had found outside in the back, while in there she came across a loose stone in the floor and took it out. Inside of the floor was a letter along with pearls, shoes, and a dress. The letter was addressed to Xing Xing from her mother telling her, "Ornament yourself, if that makes sense. Sell these things, if that makes sense." (149) and so Xing Xing puts on these items and makes her way down to the festival. Wow, talk about Cinderella in the making. So let's rewind. Xing Xing was originally going into the storeroom to put the magic carp bones, so in a sense even after a second death Xing Xing's mother was leading her and helping her. The fish is like the bird that guides Cinderella to the ball. So, Xing Xing is on her way to her ball, let's see if she finds prince charming.

Nicole

Sunday, December 2, 2007

How about something...Enchanted?


So, today I went to see Enchanted and there was so much stuff going on in that film I could barely keep it straight. But, I'll try my best =)...




The movie was a combination of many fairy tales, both Disney and non-Disney. Parts of Cinderella, Snow White, and Sleeping Beauty all made an apperance in this tale about a princess-to-be that takes a nasty fall and ends up in New York City.


Giselle started out as the usual maiden in a fairy tale who wants to find her one true love, and does when Prince Edward hears her singing from her hollowed out tree. Giselle, in the beginning, is the typical damsel in distress however takes a turn and becomes the heroine and kills the evil stepmother that tries to kill her new true love Robert who takes her into his home when she pops up in NYC with no clue of what to do but wait for Prince Edward to come and save her. Giselle isn't the typical maiden one would expect, she's actually very smart and ends up with her true love, happily ever after.


Queen Narissa (similiar to narcissus-yeah she's vain too) is indeed a stepmother, however she is the stepmother to Prince Edward and the loss of her throne is her motive to murder Giselle. She does turn into the ugly old hag and poisions Giselle with an apple like in Snow White. However, she also turns into a dragon like Malificent in Sleeping Beauty. She's very manipulative and sneaky, and admits herself as being "vindictive and spiteful". She ends up being slain by Giselle who saves Robert.


Prince Edward is really the total and complete opposite of what a Prince is in the other fairy tales. Normally Princes are brave, strong, smart, and handsome. Unfortunately for Prine Edward, he only ended up with three of the four. He was very brave, strong, and handsome, but he lacked in the brain department. He was completely oblivious to what his stepmother was doing and couldn't take a hint from Pip, the helpful chipmunk sidekick. He too ends up happily ever after with Roberts ex-girlfriend Nancy.


So, after all of this what has been observed?
Well...Nowadays, the Princess isn't the one who needs to be saved, she's the one who is doing th saving. She has grown throughout the years and doesn't need a Prince, but wants true love. She has gotten brighter, I mean after a hundred or so years of being hunted down don't you think she would catch on to the same tricks?


That Prince isn't what he seems to be and isn't needed by the Princess anymore suggesting that the Princess is more independent. The fact that Giselle fell in love with a man and not with Prince Charming displays the idea that society is getting away from the idea of Prince Charming and that there is something special in everyone. Plus, Robert had everything Prince Edward had and more.


The Stepmother in fairy tales just keeps getting more and more evil. The fact that Queen Narissa wasn't Giselle's stepmother but wanted to kill her anyway becuase she didn't want to lose her throne shows that the stepmother has become more ruthless and evil. And, as she said it herself, "vindictive and spiteful". She should have just tried to murder Prince Edward instead of Giselle because then there would never be a chance of her losing her throne to Edward's bride.


And, the best part of this movie is that it contains the meaning of a bunch of fairy tales, such as destiny cannot be overcome and what needs to happen will like in Briar-Rose (Giselle ends up with Robert even though she thought and tried to fall in love with Edward), evil will suffer in the end just like in Snow White (Narsissa dies), and working towards something will give you results like in Cinderella (true love).


Nicole =]

Saturday, December 1, 2007

Bound (post 3)...A Cinderella In the Making!


Thank god, the story is finally starting to resemble that of Cinderella besides the fact that Xing Xing has a cruel stepmother and both of her biological parents are gone.




Chapters 17-20



Xing Xing has arrived home with the medicine for Wei Ping's feet. The house is a disaster with filth and old spoiling food all over the place. Wei Ping is still on the kang, where she was when Xing Xing left, with stepmother laying beside her. Stepmother took the medicine from Xing Xing and fiddled around with it, but couldn't get the knot loose and began to breakdown. Xing Xing took cleaned the house from ceiling to floor and then washed up Wei Ping and Stepmother then Xing Xing took care of Wei Ping's feet. After month of caring for Wei Ping's feet they began to heal and look relatively normal. Stepmother and Wei Ping are in amazing moods because the cave festival is shortly coming up and there is said to be an unwed prince who will be attending.

After taking care of Wei Ping and Stepmother Xing Xing goes down to the fresh water stream and swims with the fish. She and the fish "encircled around each other like white ribbons, making the water swirl behind them. They slid past each other, touching wholly, like mother and child" (117). The fish is indeed a symbol for Xing Xing's mother, like in the Grimm version where the bird is a symbol for Cinderella's mother. These animals are to serve the girls like a mother would during hard times. It is with the fish and bird that Xing Xing and Cinderella find comfort that they cannot find with their stepmothers or stepsisters, they make life more bearable to deal with.


Some unusual events takes place in the house after Xing Xing cares for Wei Ping's feet. They respect her a little more, and she is called "Sister" by Wei Ping's or Xing Xing by Stepmother (usually calls her Lazy One). However, in a way they do this to manipulate Xing Xing in order to get what they want out of her. Stepmother has had a barrow made in order to wheel Wei Ping down to the cave festival and decided that Xing Xing will be the one to carry it. In order for Xing Xing to not feel used they give her the dress that Wei Ping was going to wear for the festival and Stepmother makes another for Wei Ping. Then they ask Xing Xing to represent the family in the poetry session of the festival and to represent their family. Xing Xing is more then elated, but in some way it's really upsetting. They use her and give her all the things she has ever wanted out of personal gain...and I can bet that they end up treating her just as horribly as they use to after the festival is over.


It's quite evident that there are some similarities and differences between this and the Grimm version. There's a festival going on, like the ball, and the girls get to go, including Xing Xing without any question because she has to push Xing Xing there unlike Cinderella who had to sneak out to the ball. Xing Xing's dress is made by Stepmother!!?!? What is this? Is stepmother showing some kind of heart towards Xing Xing, I highly doubt it, but we'll see.
Nicole

Monday, November 26, 2007

Bound (post 2)


My previous post mentioned something about women and how they are said to be more connected to yin. I wasn't sure if it was a religious view or how society viewed them, but after research I found it to be one of society. Women were not allowed to hold any type of power and were considered property or objects.




Chapters 12-16


Something surprised me while reading which I really didn't expect to find in this book mainly because it's an easy read and I didn't think that something like this would be presented in a book that is set in China. Maybe it is just ignorance, but, "And what would happen would happen; fate ruled the cosmos" (76) stuck out to me. This gave me the idea of foreshadowing, however Xing Xing takes it on herself to maybe change or alter her future when she jumps off of the oxcart. Maybe this means that in the end she won't end up with her prince like previous Cinderellas before her, or maybe that was what fate intended.



There is a lot of mention of birds in these chapters bringing to mind the Grimm version of Cinderella where the bird is the "fairy godmother" that helps her to the ball and meet her prince. However, I think that the bird was Cinderella's mother watching out for her just like Xing Xing's ancestors protecting her throughout her journey.



And, something I read came across as really funny just because it's really true. "And now, as the sun grew weak and the swuare emptied, it seemed everyone remembered their ailments" (85). This is where Xing Xing finally finds the doctor who can help Wei Ping's feet, however when she tries to tell him what happened everyone needs his assitance. He makes Xing Xing wait five days before she's allowed to tell him what is wrong with Wei Ping. It's ironic becuase Stepmother told her to be quick about the journey, but she ends up being slowed down an awful lot. It does seem as though everytime people are in a hurry what they needed to do always takes them longer.

Saturday, November 17, 2007

Bound... feet or to a life of complexity?

Alright, I'm eleven chapters into this book, but that's only sixty two pages, and it's an easy read for the most part. The words are pretty plain and basic and some of the important symbols and metaphors are explained which takes away some fun, however there is still a lot to this book so far. There are some simliarities and some differences between this and the original Cinderella tale.



Xing Xing, a young girl, is left in the care of her stepmother after the death of her father and own mother. And, is forced to take care of her younger half/step-sister Wei Ping who needs constant tending to because of her bound feet. Now, there are already some similarities and differences between the Grimm verison and this one. There is a singular sister who shares a father with Xing Xing. They often get along and feel pity for one another, Xing Xing being, "hardly more than a slave" and Wei Ping experiencing pain from her bound feet. They form a bond when Xing Xing takes home a carp, who has some important significance, and a blind raccoon. This is all very different from the Grimm version, however something takes place that is very similar.


Wei Ping's feet were bound after the death of her and Xing Xing's father in order for Wei Ping to be married off to a better and well endowed man. One day the blind raccoon wakes up and smells the blood from Wei Ping's foot rags and attacks her foot out of hunger. She loses her big toe. Does this ring a bell? Well, it should. In the Grimm version each of the stepsisters cuts off a piece of their foot in order to have the slipper fit their big feet. Wei Ping is said to have big feet as well which is why she originally binds them and this presents an idea of altering physical appereance in order to gain something or be viewed differently, which brings to mind the recent unfortunate accident with Kayne West's mother. Mrs. West went to a well known and respected plastic surgeon wanting to get multiple procedures done at once. He refused saying it wouldn't be safe to conduct so many procedures without making sure her heart was in shape for it and he wouldn't perform such a risky thing. Mrs. West then went to another plastic surgeon who agreed to conducting the procedures and last Saturday she died of cardiac arrest. Changing or altering physical apperance to be viewed in a different light or to get something else out of it can only lead to a downward spiral.


The stepmother calls Xing Xing by Lazy one which is similar to Cinderella because she is also not called by her birth name. Also, the stepmother seems to be much worse than that of Cinderella's because of Xing Xing's mother's death wish that she would care for her father until the day he died. Which goes back to the idea of jealousy and that is what drives the stepmother to act in such a cruel manner towards Xing Xing who admits it herself that, "stepmother's jealousy of her grew in, until the end, the woman hardly looked at her without curling her lip" (26). However, unlike the Grimm version there is, at one point, in the story where stepmother accepts and is actually impressed by Xing Xing. When Xing Xing first brings home the carp and raccoon a smile on Wei Ping's face lights up for the first time since her bandages have been applied, and she finally has interest in something again, however once the raccoon bites off Wei Ping's toe the mood changes and Xing Xing is blamed for bringing evil into the house.


The idea of yin and yang is presented in chapter nine which I thought was interesting. Just as a review: yin is considered to be dark, cold, and stiff while yang is bright, hot, and flowlike and there would be no harmony if one existed without the other. Xing Xing refers to the raccoon as yin, having biten off a toe, and the carp as yang. Now, Xing Xing mentioned that she felt, "more affinity to the yang within her than to the yin, even though she was a girl..."(44). Now, at first I thought of the fall and Adam and Eve and how women are the bane of human existence, but then I remembered that they are not Christian or any form of it, but Kong Fu Zi which made me wonder if women are looked down upon because of religion or because that's just society. Anyway, Xing Xing is much more connected to her yang, however her stepmother is not, which makes me wonder why there isn't a sense of harmony in the house since they are polar opposites. However, Wei Ping's awful outlook probably has something to do with it.


That's it for now,

Nicole.

=]


Saturday, November 10, 2007

Bound by Donna Jo Napoli



Bound by Donna Jo Napoli is a novel set in China that is based off of Cinderella. Let's see if any parallels exist between Disney's Cinderella and the Grimm version.
Presentation of the story will of course be different, however I have a feeling the moral will stay the same.

Monday, October 29, 2007

The Grimm Version of Briar Rose

Little Briar-Rose, or better known as Sleeping Beauty, is the tale of a princess who pricks her finger on a spindle and falls asleep for a hundred years. At her birth Little Briar-Rose's father decided to celebrate his daughters birth with a feast, however he only had enough golden plates for twelve out of the thirteen wise women. When the 13th found out about the celebration she came, avenging herself, to the celebration and cursed the child, "'The King's daughter shall in her fifteenth year prick herself with a spindle, and fall down dead'" (237). Thankfully, the 12th wise woman hadn't given her gift to the child yet and lessened the brunt of the curse to a slumber of a hundred years. King's sons heard about the princess and tried to rescue her, however a hedge of thorns, that grew around the castle, stopped and killed many of the king's sons. It wasn't until the one hundred years passed and another king's son came to rescue her that the thorns turned to flowers and allowed him to enter safely the castle and awake her with a kiss. They married and lived contently for the rest of their lives. Now, this doesn't seem like a story that has much to it, however...Her name, Little Briar-Rose,is a thorny shrub that often have roses. The significance is connected with the fact that a hedge of thorns grow around the castle when she falls asleep. A little bit of a foreshadowing hint.In fairy tales, there is often something that is called doubling factors that are presented. And, this fairy tale isn't an exception. The spindle on which she pricks her finger is doubled by the thorns that kill the princes. These, the spindle and thorns, are a symbol for curiousity. Because Briar-Rose was curious she fell asleep for a hundred years, and becuase of the princes curiousity they suffered painful deaths.

The ideas that are trying to be presented through all of this is that things must run their course, and that curiousity can be fatal. Brain and brawn cannot overcome what is destined to happen and time will pass as well as certain events and all people can do is wait. This is displayed by the fact that the thorns turned to flowers only after the one hundred years had passed. The prince awoke Briar-Rose because the time was right.

The Grimm Brothers are very blunt and get straight to the point using shorter sentences that aren't filled with wordy descriptions. Their works are also violent as to insure the idea they are trying to present.

Monday, October 22, 2007

The Grimm Version of Hansel and Gretel

Hansel and Gretel

Ok, so here is a quick catch up on the story:

Two children, Hansel and Gretel, live with their father and stepmother. They are in great debt, and have trouble affording simple things like bread. Their debt starts growing worse and worse to the point that the stepmother tells her husband they must leave the kids in the forest becuase they cannot afford to feed four mouths. The children, who are still awake out of hunger, over hear their parents conversation. Hansel, the older brother, tells his sister not to worry and he goes outside and picks up a bunch of pebbles. The next day their parents take them to the woods, along the way Hansel drops the pebbles that way the two will be able to find their way home. The parets build the children a fire and tell them to stay put and that they'll come and get them when they are done chopping trees for fire wood. They children fall asleep by the fire from fatigue and wake up during the night. The moons light makes the pebbles shine allowing the kids to get home safely. Again, the family is in great debt and the children overhear the stepmother telling her husband that they have to lead the children deeper into the forest and leave them there (the father doesn't want to do this either time by the way) however this time Hansel cannot get out of the house to get pebbles. The next morning the children are given bread like the last time and Hansel uses this for a trail. Unfortunately, the children fall asleep by the fire again and by the time they wake up the crumbs from the bread have been eaten by birds. They wander and stumble across a house entirely made out of sweets and gingerbread. The two begin to feast and the owner, a witch, greets them and invites them in. The witch then locks Hansel in a barn and forces Gretel to fatten the boy up so the witch can eat him. When the time comes around for Hansel to be cooked Gretel heats the oven and then kicks the witch in and shuts the oven. She frees her brother from the barn and return home safely with diamonds and pearls they had stolen from the witch's house.

Ok, so where to start this tale has so much....

Well, like Little Briar-RoseHansel and Gretel has a doubling factor. Maybe it was evident in my summary and then again maybe not. But, the stepmother is doubled by the witch. The wickedness, jealousy, and cruel intentions are traits of both characters. While reading, I began to wonder why authors use a stepmother instead of a mother in the tales that involve a jealous character and the only reasoning I could come up with was that a real mother is attached and has a bond with her children and therefore couldn't truly have that much hate to do such a thing to her child. However, in stories the wicked cruel stepmother has an important role as the antogonist and the one who helps to develop the protagonist. It is because of the stepmother that Hansel and Gretel become so independent and brave. Also, while reading I noticed that the stepmother refers to Hansel and Gretel as, "Naughty children" after they have returned home from the first visit from the forest claiming that they slept for too long and that she and their father was worried about them. This language is used by the Grimm brothers to add to her nasty character because by blaming the children she isn avoiding her own incrimination. The stepmother is an important character that is used in many tales such as Snow White, Cinderella, and this one, Hansel and Gretel.

The forest is significant in the tale. The Grimm brothers often set their stories in the forest becuase to them it is a place where anything can happen and when lost in the forest it is a loss of security which Hansel and Gretel felt when they find out their trail of bread is gone.

The bread is symbolic for the transition between childhood and adulthood. It is because of the eaten bread crumbs that the children have to find their own way home and fend for themselves. Also, the gingerBREAD house is where Gretel's growth as a person/character is first displayed.

When I started reading this tale all I could think was, "what a sexist view". Hansel is the older of the two and the one who thought of using the pebbles as a trail and then the chinken finger bone when the witch checked on his weight everyday postponing him from being eaten by the wich. Also, the fact that he had to console and comfort Gretel when she is upset about being left in the woods. However, when I continued to read I realized how much Gretel grows as a character. In the begining she needs her older brother's comfort, however by the end of the tale she is the one who kills the witch and tells Hansel, "...she shall take us across one the other" when the duck is to small to carry both their weight. The Gretel in the begining would never be able to kill someone showing that she has really developed. So it really wasn't as sexist as I thought it was.

Lastly, the Grimm brothers are trying to convey this idea of lostness and loss of security through the story as well as the idea that a person may suffer from a cause that wasn't of his/her own.

Nicole

Monday, October 15, 2007

The Grimm Version of Little Snow White

Little Snow-whiteAnd like always, here is the summary:A Queen gives birth to a princess and names her Snow-white because she is "white as snow, red as blood, and black as ebony" (249). After giving birth to Snow-white the queen passes away and within a year of the queen's death the King had already remarried to a woman.The stepmother is entranced by her beauty and "could not bear that anyone should surpass her in beauty". She had her mirror in which she would scan the land for maidens who were prettier than she and she hadn't come across one until Snow-white grew into a beautiful young lady.Out of envy the Queen hired a huntsman to take Snow-white into the forest and kill her and to bring back her lung and liver. The huntsman however could not kill Snow-white and spares her her life with the compromise that she runs off into the forest and never returns. The huntsman then kills a young boar and brings back the liver and lung and the Queen eats them believing they are the organs of Snow-white.Snow-white continues to roam throughout the forest until she comes to a small cottage in which there is seven of every object. She ends up falling asleep after having a nice meal and is found by seven dwarfs who live in the cottage and dug for gold in the mountains. They allow her to stay with them on the condition that she cooks, cleans, and takes care of them. They also warn her to be on the look out for her stepmother. So, now going back to the Queen, one day the Queen decides to ask her mirror again who is the prettiest in the land and still the mirror replys Snow-white. Now, that the Queen knows her stepdaughter is still alive she makes it her mission to bring an end to the princess.Two times the Queen dresses up as an old hag trying to sell items. The first item is dressing lace. The Queen persuades Snow-white to open up and let her in to dress her correctly, however the Queen ties the laces so tight that Snow-white falls down as if dead and not breathing. The seven dwarfs come home and find her on the floor they untie the lace and she comes back from her death like slumber. The second time the Queen comes by dressed as a different old hag with a poisonous comb and offers to brush Snow-whites hair. With much persuasion she is finally allowed into the cottage and the moment the comb touches Snow-white's hair the poison spreads and again makes her fall into a death like slumber. The dwarfs again come home and find her on the floor they take the comb out of her hair and she wakes up. After both tries the Queen goes to the mirror and asks who is the prettiest in the land and both times the mirror responds with Snow-white's name. Finally, the Queen gets fed up with Snow-white and poisons an apple so only one side of it is poisonous and then dresses up as a farmers wife. She goes to the cottage and offers the apple, however when Snow-white refuses she doesn't push her knowing that Snow-white is really craving the apple. Snow-white does take the apple and with one bite the poison is in control of her body and the piece of apple lodged in her throat. This time when the dwarfs come home they can't find anything externally wrong with her and figure she is dead. They cannot bear to bury her in the ground and so build a glass coffin so everyone can share her beauty. And, the Queen's mirror finally told her that she is the fairest in the land.A king's son comes to visit Snow-white and is so entranced by her beauty he takes her home with him. On the way the bumps in the road cause the apple in Snow-whites throat to come dislodged and she awakens. The king's son decides he wants to marry Snow-white and she agrees. The Queen is invited to the wedding and before going looks into her mirror one last time and asks who is the prettiest of the land and again it answers Snow-white. The Queen decided to go to the wedding anyway even though enraged and when she arrives the prince and Snow-white have prepared iron hot slippers for the Queen and she dances her way to death.

And, now...

Once again like in the previous story there is a stepmother. I have all ready discussed my views and opinions for the use of the stepmother in the tales so refer to Hansel and Gretel.

The whole, "white as snow, red as blood, and black as ebony" are(what I've found after a little research)the three colors that represent maiden, mother, and a withered old woman. Snow-white is only named after one of the three parts of womanhood suggesting that she is innocent and naive (which is also displayed by her actions of allowing the Queen to enter the cottage three different times).

And, the biggie in this tale is the mirror or looking-glass. Recall Greek mythology for a moment, and think back to Narcissus the young boy who fell in love with his reflection. In this tale the mirror has two jobs (maybe more, but I haven't caught anymore)which includes the husband/father figure that is absent through most of the story that the Queen and Snow-white are competing for his approval. And, the male's view of women and that they only have their looks.

The forest...again look up at Hansel and Gretel

There is significant importance in the fact that the Queen wants to eat Snow-white's liver and lungs and it isn't just cannabalism. It was said that by eating parts of other creatures one would acquire the characteristics of that creature. The lung represents breath or spirit while the liver represents love and desire. The Queen ate these thinking that she would acquire these traits and could finally win the approval of the mirror.

THE APPLE! The apple here can be considered the fruit of knowledge just like that of the bible and the Queen is the snake. The tempting fruit is what allows Snow-white to finally see clearly and no longer through the lense of naiveness since she finally kills the Queen. The apple represents knowledge in the bible as well as in greek mythology. The apple was important to Aphrodite. It represented knowledge, and in past years love and affection which she has with the prince.

The glass coffin is significant as well I believe, however I just can't seem to place my finger on what makes it so important.

Oh, and the way the stepmother dies is crucial to the story. She dies of hot iron slippers that are placed to her feet right at the end of the story meaning that just because Snow-white got her prince the story is still a tragedy.

The message that the Grimm brothers are trying to get across throughout the tale is that a person will suffer because of their actions and ways. Also, that being naive isn't a good thing as we have seen through Snow-white...so remember to keep your eyes open for anything especially those old hags.

Nicole

Latin class helped so much last year with the mythology and stuff!

Thursday, October 11, 2007

Cinderella, some back info.

So, I wanted to learn a little more about the story Cinderella and where it originally came from and other information. I found this wikipedia site: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cinderella and I found some interesting stuff out.

There have been arguments about where the story of Cinderella originated, however it is safe to say there is early evidence of an early Greek and Chinese story.

The Chinese version is very similar to the book Bound I read earlier, where a girl's fish is killed and the magic bones help her find a prince.

What I've learned is that there are many adaptations of Cinderella in novels, plays, films, and songs, however the moral stays the same: "Beauty is a treasure, but graciousness is priceless. Without it nothing is possible; with it, one can do anything". However, I have found that the idea that if someone works toward a better future they'll get it and vanity and jealousy will not prevail over good.

Nicole

Monday, October 8, 2007

The Grimm Version of Cinderella

Alright, so I'm not going to summarize this tale to much, but here are the basics you need to know:

Cinderella's mom dies, and her father remarries to a woman that has two daughters of her own. She because ostrasized from the rest of the family and is made to pick up after them. The King's son is having a three day ball in order to find his queen. Cinderella wants to go badly, however her stepmother won't allow her with reasons such as, "'No, Cinderella, you have no clothes and you can not dance'" (123) However, she goes anyway with the help of a tree that casts down gowns of gold and silver. She goes to the ball all of the three days and each time the prince wants to follow her home and see to what family she belongs, however she gets away everytime. On the final day she loses a slipper on her way out. The prince finds the family to which Cinderella belongs and asks for each of the daughters to try on the shoe. Both stepsisters try on the shoe and one must cut off a toe and the other a heel in order for the shoe to fit, but they are caught and taken back to the house. Finally, Cinderella tries on the shoe and it fits, and she and the prince are married. The stepsisters try to get on Cinderella's good side and go to the wedding however birds peck out their eyes at the end of the story.

Sorry that was so rushed I'm really excited about getting into my next read!

The evil stepmother is once again introduced. It is the whole idea that a biological mother could never be so cruel to their child and the jealousy of the character helpts to evolve the tale.

Like in Snow-white the looking glass or mirror is introduced in Cinderella. It symbolizes the vanity of the stepsisters and also shows that they are wealthy because having a mirror was a sign of wealth.

"The sisters were almost two days with out eating, so much were they transported with joy" I just find this funny that even back in these times girls would starve themselves before a big get together. Also, the next part in which the sisters break above a dozen laces (laces that tie up the corset) show that their bodies are not ideal and that they are not perfect like they like to think they are.

Oh, and if you were wondering... There is no fairy god mother in the the original tale. However, it is the tree that was planted next to Cinderella's late mother that threw her down the clothes for the ball. Which goes back to the idea that her mother told Cinderella to stay good and pious and she will be helped.

The glass slippers are also important to the story and developement of the character Cinderella. Glass is very fragile and in order for Cinderella to wear them suggests that she is danity and small as to not shatter them when she wears them. Also, the fact that she wears them while she dances the night aways shows that she has a great amount of grace. When she loses the shoe at the ball and then it is returned by the prince he and his servants do not reconize her suggesting that she doesn't belong in rags, but in beautiful clothing. The reunion of Cinderella and the lost glass slipper completes her identity.

The stepsisters finally paid for their vain and jealous ways. Their eyes are pecked out by birds while they are trying to ask Cinderella for forgivness. However, they are only seeking her forgiveness in the hopes they will recieve some of her riches. Also, this goes back to the idea that even though Cinderella lives contently the story is a depressing one.

The idea the Grimm brothers are trying to present are those of working towards something does end up in rewards, and vainty and jealousy will not come with beneficial consequences.

Nicole

About fairy tales...

Some important facts we should all know...
A tale is a made up story. Originally, they were constructed merely as a form of entertainment, to fill the hours between day and night, work and sleep. However, as the years continued the use of tales eveolved and the symbolic content was increased. They are used to instil morals and lessons. Tales pluck from myths, but alter the facts and because of that they have no religious importance. Myth and magic are used to produce a tale that is pleasing and effective.

Most tales are told in prose, and at times of importance rhyme is introduced. When a rhyme is presented an alarm should sound.Examples:"Looking glass, looking glass on the wall, who's the fairest one of all?""Turn back, turn back, young maiden dear, 'tis a murderer's house you enter here."The presentation often differs. The first one, obviously from Snow-White, represents vanity, and the second is a warning which can also foreshadow an outcome.

Nicole

Saturday, September 22, 2007

Hello

Hi, you have come across my independent reading project for english. Fairy tales have evolved throughout the years and vary from culture to culture in the way they are told, however the morals and lessons are usually the same. Here, I will be comparing our modern day fairy tale to those of past years.

I will be reading the following books:
The Complete Grimm’s Fairy Tales by Scharl, Colum, and Campbell
Briar Rose by Jane Yolen
Tam Lin by Pamela Dean
Falling Leaves: The Memoir of an Unwanted Chinese Daughter by Adeline Yen Mah OR Bound by Donna Jo Napoli

As well as other readings and watching movies.

-Nicole =)