Sleeping Princess

     Over the past few weeks I have had a recurring struggle: If fairy tales in their most basic meaning are pointless due to our modern understanding, how can we reclaim them? Of course, In this journey of understanding many of our beloved fairy tales I am yet a babe, I came to this conclusion, instead of coming up with new meaning (like I tried to do in my blog on The Frog King), what if the meaning was just translated into the modern age that we find ourselves. AKA what is the underlying symbolism grew and took on a deeper meaning like so many of the old myths and fairy tales use to. And so, my fairy tale blogs from now on will see to do that! I ask for those of you who read, to take interests and join the dialog of giving greater meaning to classics.
      With this in mind, the tale I would like to look at is none other than the famous Sleeping Beauty,(which the Grimm version can be found here)[1].  At first, on reading about the different symbolism, I was not surprised to find again, that most were about the awakening of sexuality, the maturing of women-hood, and the acceptance of that role. However, I feel that some of the things that our long sleeper dealt with transcending and speaks very deeply to us today.
     A girl no more, a woman not yet- if anything the prolonged slumber which happens due to a curse put the Princess extended her ‘childhood'[2]. At the age of seventeen, the princess would have been sought after to marry and among many things produce and hire. However, she is put into a prolonged sleep instead, never providing a hire, and never maturing past childhood until a hundred years later[3].
     This I feel speaks profoundly today of many who do not grow up. By this I mean a society which fails to understand that with becoming older there are certain responsibilities that come along with age. Providing for yourself, and family. Helping the growth of those around you in lesser situations. Following your dreams, (which in itself is a struggle and not just something handed to you.) Yet it seems to me that many are in a suspended state of childhood. Not understanding that actions have consequences and sometimes those cannot be avoided. And that certain actions must happen in society as a hold is to be upheld and progress forward.
     Pricks and curses happen- This if anything struck me the most, a curse happened, a finger was pricked (and in one version of the story sleeping beauty was raped) yet the story does not end at the bad. In fact, it would not be a fairy tale if it ended there. How many stop following their dream because one or a few bad things that happened. The spindle in many cases can mean a person’s dreams, yet for the princess, her dreaming would lead to her ‘death.' Even in the version where she is raped, she does not give up when she awakens on having kids and a family. We all have dreams, and because of that thing will get in the way of those dreams, (sometimes maybe even the dream itself). However, we cannot allow the fear of what may happen stop us from doing what we love to do. And we cannot allow a few pricks and curses to control our life. If we are always reacting to what a fear tells us, we will never step out on the cliff to see the sunrise (something I have done, and it is awesome)!
     Time’s change, but there is life in it- Of all the miss fortunes that happen to our princess this is to me the most tragic; to fall asleep, the awaken years after your loved one has passed away. In this, there are endless possibilities for psychological problems to be overcome. Yet I am amazed in what the sleeping princess responds with, “I have been waiting for you.” Things change, people, rise to political positions that we don’t like. Laws are passed we don’t agree with, people die, wars, start, relationships fail, yet there is always hope if you seek to see it.  The world is always changing, and we are part of that change. However, the princess’s words can be true for us, the world, love, hope that we have been waiting for can come to pass. The question is when you see it will you notice it, or will you only see the hundred years that have passes, the things you missed, and the strangeness of everything that is new? It is a perspective of do I see a prince (a dream come true) or do I only see the pain and horror (parent's death). Beauty is not the only thing in the eye of the beholder. 


[1]SleepingBeauty. http://etc.usf.edu/lit2go/68/fairy-ta.... Accessed June 29, 2017.

[2]RegurgitatedThought.http://regurgitatedthought.blogspot.c.... Accessed June 29, 2017.

[3]AnnotationsforSleepingBeauty.http://www.surlalunefairytales.com/sleepingbeauty/notes.html. Accessed June 29, 2017.