The story carefully shows a civil
conversation with the wolf, who is a known predator of the natural world, and
he goes to great lengths to deceive her before devouring her. We have to ask,
however, what is Red’s part in this? There is a line within the story in
Perrault’s version that is most interesting as the wolf asks Red to “Put the
cake and the little pot of butter upon the stool, and come get into bed with
me.”
This in itself could be quite
innocent as a way to lure Red closer, but Red’s response, however, is unusual.
“Little Red Riding Hood took off her clothes and got into bed.” The Wolf did
not ask her to do this. The wolf made no mention of removing clothing. If this
were simply her cloak and hood, which could be understandably dirtied from the
travel, it would be acceptable. However, no distinction is made. It is clothes.
Red doesn’t even have the benefit
of bed clothes, which the wolf is quite clearly wearing as the story states
“[Red] was greatly amazed to see how her grandmother looked in her
nightclothes.” If the story wanted to make the point of having Red in
nightclothes, it would have done so. Instead, we’re left with the idea of a
completely naked Red in bed with the wolf.
Completely naked of her own
volition.