文摘
The character of the crone is very important for Victorian fairy tales, particularly because of her influence on the female protagonist of the story. Fairy tales are an important and necessary part of culture because they fulfill many psychological and social needs. This genre allows authors to comment on their own social or cultural perspectives through traditional tropes and symbols. Therefore, Victorian writers needed a way to express their discontent about the changing views of female sexuality and many turned to writing fairy tales. The tales of George MacDonald, Mary de Morgan, and Andrew Lang are particularly important, as well as the influence that previous European writers had on the Victorian period. In the centuries leading up to the Victorian era, the Italians, the French, and the Germans all dealt with sexuality in their own social contexts, influencing the way that Victorian writers viewed sexuality and its role in fairy tales. The evil female character in fairy tales is vital for this study because in the three tale types examined, she is set up as both a hindrance and a guide for the female protagonist. The tale types covered are versions of "Sleeping Beauty," "Rapunzel," and "Snow White," because each tale has a slightly different relationship between the crone and the princess, but in each tale the crone ultimately ends up protecting the princess in her natural maturation process. This process differs from one version of the tale to the next, so I have taken into consideration the cultural and historical contexts, particularly for the Victorian tales. Ultimately the crone brings the princess into knowledge of herself as a sexual being and allows the princess to attain her happily-ever-after.
