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Analysis Of The Book ' Little Red Cap ' By Angela Carter

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Fairytales subvert, challenge or reaffirm archetypal values through didactic lenses. The presence of universal themes allows for an examination of contextual shifts and by being malleable in nature, can be made relevant to different audiences. The Brothers Grimm 's "Little Red Cap", Angela Carter’s 'The Company of Wolves" and Tommy Wirkola 's film, "Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters" all promote their hegemonic ideologies and as 'cultural artefacts’ extrapolate the contextual values of their time period. Carl Jung 's theory of the 'Collective Unconscious" ensures that each of these fairytale adaptations can retain their archetypal value and thus remain significant and relevant in contemporary circumstances.
The Brother Grimm’s 19th Century Fairytale, "Little Red Cap" reflects the hegemonies of its context through its cautionary justification. Grimm’s work reflected the importance of German national cohesion under French occupation and the view towards foreigners as destructive usurpers. "Little Red Cap" was adapted for instructional purposes, specifically aimed at a children 's audience. Initially in the tale, the subversion of Perrault’s depiction of the girl is evident exemplifying her as a "sweet" little girl and the hyperbolic "everybody loved her instantly on first sight" demonstrates the engrained virtue of her youth. The instruction for Little Red Cap to "not stray from the path" foreshadows the inherent danger associated with a misguided venture. The symbolism of
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