Jessica O’Mara
Little Red Riding Hood
No matter the version, most people can recall the walk to Grandma’s house in the story Little Red Riding Hood. In Charles Perrault’s edition, the walk to grandma’s house didn’t end so pleasant for the inexperienced young riding hood; a sneaky wolf and the youthful girl’s paths crossed for a quick and unfortunate last time. Perrault’s characters show both sides to two morals many children are taught; be kind to your neighbors and elders, and to not talk to strangers. The moral Little Riding Hood followed contradicted the other and in the end, sealed her fate.
Most would assume a child of any age with good manners had been raised taught to respect their neighbors and elders. In Perrault’s story, that’s exactly how he portrays Riding Hood; kind and polite. Although she didn’t seem so bright to the reader, one could admire her respectful personality. As Riding Hood headed to Grandma’s house, she ran into her neighbor, Mr. Wolf. As he greets her, she acts out politely and greets him back. Wolf continues on the conversation which continues Riding Hood with him. The theme of being kind to your elders and neighbors is a much practiced moral among parents and their children. Simple things like to speak when spoken to explain Riding Hood’s gentle actions, she was simple following the moral her parent’s modeled for her. Although the story didn’t end so happily ever after for Riding Hood, her character still modeled the moral of respect.
If I listen long enough, I can still hear my dad’s lectures echoing in my ear. “Don’t talk to strangers, no matter what!” he’d always say. With all the horrible things that happen in the world, I can understand why it was always said. In Perrault’s story, Riding Hood’s naïve way about her also illustrates why the theme of cautious parenting stays so important. If Riding Hood hadn’t been so open to speaking with the wolf, he probably wouldn’t have been able to figure out where...