Date of Award

Spring 5-2-2024

Degree Name

Bachelor of Arts

Major

LACS: Francophone Studies

First Advisor

Doyle Calhoun

Abstract

In the realm of folklore and storytelling, fairy tales have long captivated audiences with their enchanting tales and timeless themes. Originating from oral tradition and having been passed down from generation to generation, these short stories have evolved into a cornerstone of literature and culture, helping nurture the imaginations of children and adults alike. However, fairy tales have never been mere bedtime stories. They have become a very effective means of exerting power over women and maintaining gender inequality, for beneath the surface of these seemingly innocent narratives lie carefully crafted and deeply rooted misconceptions about both sex and gender, which have been imprinted on readers from the time they were young and often persist into adulthood. In particular, the portrayal of women and their roles within these narratives as either good or evil further reinforces this binary gender system, limiting the agency and autonomy of female characters, and villainizing all women who fail to conform to such a system.

Accordingly, this dissertation will attempt to unravel the complex layers of female characterizations in some of the most famous and enduring fairy tales, and examine the subtler forms of social manipulation that they employ. Through a thorough investigation of the classic tale Snow White and a close read of several of its different iterations from Paul Sébillot’s “Les Bas enchantés” to the Grimm Brothers’ “Schneewitchen”, I hope to better understand the relationship between Snow White and the “Evil” Queen and how this figure has evolved over time from biological mother to stepmother as part of a larger movement to protect the sanctity of motherhood and vilify the childless woman. In addition, I hope to shed light on the ways in which these fairy tales contribute to a mercantile reward system that views marriage as the pinnacle of a woman’s achievement, and the broader ways in which such a system helps to encourage discord and further destroy the bonds between women. By delving into the underlying issues of competition between female characters and the reward system that is centered around marriage as the most important moment of a women’s life, I aim to challenge the traditional narrative that is set forth by these tales and instead suggest that marriage marks the transition of women from young and well-mannered heroines to the old and wicked antagonists that they fear.

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