Social Context of Fairy Tales

Fairy tales arise from specific social and cultural conditions and are thus shaped by them.
- Fairy tales usually reinforce the dominant social ideas and attitudes of that specific time.
- Hence, the ideas that are still socially acceptable remain in the fairy tale throughout the ages, and others are altered over time.
- In other words, the changing nature of fairy tales has its roots in social and cultural forces. They are not simply due to the opinions and approaches of different storytellers.
OLDER VERSIONS OF LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD
- Often extremely violent, for example, inclusion of bottles of blood and human flesh.
- Little Red Riding Hood always portrayed as innocent and obedient.
- Often very moralistic and aimed at getting children to obey their parents, respect their elders etc (ie. teaching children social norms).
- Reliance on male saviour to rescue Little Red Riding Hood and her grandmother (ie. patriarchal dominance of society at that time).
MODERN VERSIONS OF LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD
- Less moralistic, but still reflective of the social limitations of this period in time.
…