Sleeping BeautySleeping Beauty is an adaptation of the original "La Belle au Bois dormant" that transalates into The Beauty of Sleeping Wood. It is a fairy tale, first published by Charles Perrault as Contes de ma Mere l'Oye or "Mother Goose Tales" in 1697. Perrault's cultural presence at that time was so enigmatic and consistent that the story line picked up with an audience of children and adults worldwide. The story line is that at the naming ceremony of a princess born to the royal couple after very many years, fairies, as godmothers were invited to belss the child. They blessed her with explicit beauty, unmatched wit and great musical talent. However, one of the wicked ones who felt slighted, placed the princess under an enchantment. She announced that on becoming a young adult, the princess would prick her finger while working on a spindle and die. A good fairy came to the aid of the royal couple and although she was unable to undo the spell, she said that instead of dying, the princess would sleep for a very long time, a hundred years. She would be ultimately awakened by the kiss of royalty, that of a prince. The tale has also been interpreted as a myth. The story seems to play around the natural phenomena. This arises on account of the names given to Sleeping Beauty's children; Sun, Moon, Dawn and Day. Some folklorists analyze that the Sleeping Beauty indicates the replacement of the lunar year. This arises out of the fact that they read the thirteen fairies as the thirteen months, symbolically depicted. And, the solar year depicted by the twelve months, symbolically the invited fairies. A common idea that is inherent in the theme of the story suggests that beauty exists in the physical appearance of things and within people who are inherently good. A perfect example is that of the good fairy who is naturally be perceived as more beautiful than the wicked one. Also, most people judge people who are physically attractive human beings to be good, both physically and on a deeper level. They are specifically believed to possess a variety of positive traits, even if not on display, and positive personality characteristics. |