Little Red Ridding Hood

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Little Red Riding Hood: Good vs. Evil

For generations there has always been a constant battle between good and evil. In society today, and societies in the past, people have struggled over the desire to be good, and the temptation to be evil. In one single tale we see different forms of good and evil, as well as how different ideas become viewed as good and evil as time goes on. The tale of Little Red Riding Hood is one that has allowed authors to write and rewrite over and over in order to fit into the beliefs of society, during specific time periods. Two tales in particular have allowed for deeper discussion into the definition of good and evil. The Brothers Grimm tale, “Little Red Cap”, was written and published in the 1800s;
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This statement infers that Little Red Riding Hood did not know any better and that she cannot be put at fault for speaking to the wolf. Perrault’s use of ‘the poor child’ made LRRH seem more innocuous and helpless. This provides the perfect set up for the advancement of the idea that Little Red although innocent is naïve. Being naïve in this time period was not a good thing, due to the fact that men were constantly trying to tempt young women and lure them into sleeping with them. The wolf, representing man, was able to get Little Red Riding hood to tell him where she was headed; had LRRH’s parents taught her that it is not okay to speak to strangers, especially wolves, she would not have gotten eaten, but do to her naivety she did. The intended lesson for the audience here is that it is good to be innocent but is bad to be naïve. Young girls need to be smart and cautious; especially when it comes to the ‘wolves’ of the world.

In Charles Perrault tale, “Little Red Riding Hood”, based on the intended audience it is understood that an evil in the world is that of loosing one’s innocence as a young woman, or not being chaste. During the time frame of the late 1600s and early 1700s, it was simply understood that men are men and they will do as they please, thus making it up to the

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