FAIRY TALES REINTERPRETED: PASSIVE PROTAGONISTS TRANSFORMED INTO ACTIVE HEROINES

Abstract

Much of the foundational folk and fairy tale scholarship regarding gender roles was written in response to the second wave feminist movement of the 1970s, harshly criticizing the female protagonists as poor role models and lackluster heroines. Surprisingly, these decades-old concepts are still influential, with modern academics often following suit without question or deeper analysis, continuing to argue that fairy tales are merely stories that portray women as passive and weak or victims. This thesis challenges these rigidly established but under-questioned theories by reinterpreting the actions of the protagonists in Charles Perrault's 1697 "Cinderella" and 1694 "Donkey-Skin," and Hans Christian Andersen's 1837 "The Little Mermaid." Although many modern critics continue to dismissively label these women as passive, if Jungian theory is applied, each woman's intellectual, psychological, and spiritual development becomes indicative of an active and intentional quest. All three protagonists embark upon a physical journey, which allows each to cultivate a unique identity--a true self--while also effectively navigating the confines of her current situation, assertively working against any imposed limitations, as she actively chooses and pursues her destiny.