I chose Red
for our first foray because she’s well known, and there have been some recent
film interpretations that have left people scratching their heads, especially
regarding the sexual under(and over)tones. Each of these analyses will be
relatively short since I don’t want to spend one full post on each of the
interpretation (though I could do that if asked nicely). So here we go.
Wolf as Human Predator
The wolf displays human traits with
a predator nature. He is capable of
speech, extreme cleverness, quick wits, and is able to improvise answers on the
spot. At any time he could end the charade and simply devour Red, yet he
chooses to continue the charade, taking a perverse enjoyment out of the game,
demonstrating a more terrifying kind of predator.
Wolf as Common Class
The Wolf represents the poor,
common class, which will eventually rise up and devour the upper class
represented by Red. Red’s hood is quite expensive, and maintaining a residence
in the city indicates a degree of wealth, not to mention a cottage in the woods
solely for Grandma. The Wolf, however, is destitute with no visible shelter
save the woods, and is suffering from extreme hunger, which are classical signs
of the poor. The myth provides a cautionary tale how the wealthy need to stop
focusing on their wealth and superficial physical features or they risk
eventual overthrow by the lower classes.
Wolf as Natural World
The Wolf is of the natural world,
and its ability to devour both Red and Grandma show the inevitable power of
nature over humanity. Mankind, for all its technical achievements with
buildings, dyeing cloth, manufacturing butter, is unable to guard itself
against the cunning and power of the natural Wolf.
Wolf as Sexual Predator
The Wolf is a sexual predator. He
deceives Red and Grandma, insinuating himself into positions of trust, which
enable him to devour them. The features comparison between Red and the wolf
present a seduction scene; the wolf is attributed with features—though
fetishized—commonly found desirable in a sexual situation.
Wolf as Trickster Figure
The Wolf is a trickster who relies
on subterfuge and deception. He is not evil as the culture’s morality within
the story doesn’t account for this. More simply the Wolf is clever while human
beings are not, and humans suffer a deserved fate for not being clever. He uses
humans for his own amusement, making his relationship with Red akin to a toy or
a pet.
Cultural Values
The culture of the story values
prudence and cleverness; however, the values are split between Red and the
Wolf. If Red had exercised prudence and not discussed her plans with the wolf,
she and her Grandma would not have been endangered.
The Wolf, meanwhile, exhibits
cleverness and intelligence; he uses these to capitalize on the opportunity
before him. At any time he could simply devour Red, but he employs his
intelligence to devour them both.
Curiosity Destroys
The story portrays curiosity in a
negative light, where Red is punished for her constant curiosity. She talks to
the Wolf, takes her time on the path by looking at flowers, and constantly
questions the Wolf masquerading as Grandma. At each turn this curiosity leads
to her fate as a meal for the wolf, ultimately showing the world as a very
dangerous place to be on guard from. Failure to be on guard—that is, being open
and curious—will lead to destruction.
These are a
bare handful of interpretations. I could go into more detail for any of them,
and even come up with more besides: Red as sexually submissive,
irresponsibility of youth, feebleness of the very young and the very old, order
vs. chaos, etc. This analysis only looked at the version of the story without
the Hunter who comes along and rescues Red and Grandma, which brings in all
sorts of interesting interpretations regarding gender roles, chivalry, misogyny,
and so on. So when it comes to Fairy Tales, the sky is the limit with regards
to analyzing them.