Colin Snow
Princess Aurora, also known as Sleeping Beauty or Briar Rose, is the titular character in Disney's 1959 animated film, Sleeping Beauty. Aurora is cursed by the evil fairy Maleficent, who foretells that the princess will prick her finger on a spinning wheel's spindle and die before sunset on her sixteenth birthday. However, one of the three good fairies, Merryweather, weakens the curse so that Aurora will only fall into a deep sleep until she is awakened by true love's kiss. On her sixteenth birthday, Aurora meets and falls in love with Prince Phillip, but she is lured by Maleficent to prick her finger and falls into a deep sleep. The question of how Aurora wakes up has been explored in various retellings of the classic fairy tale, with some depicting her awakening through true love's kiss, while others have reimagined the story to give Aurora a more active role in breaking the spell.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name of Princess | Aurora |
| Other Names | Sleeping Beauty, Briar Rose |
| Name of Film | Sleeping Beauty |
| Year of Release | 1959 |
| Name of Evil Fairy | Maleficent |
| Name of Princess's Father | King Stefan |
| Name of Princess's Mother | Queen Leah |
| Name of Princess's Love Interest | Prince Phillip |
| Name of Good Fairies | Flora, Fauna, and Merryweather |
| Reason for Curse | Not Inviting Maleficent to Aurora's Christening |
| Curse | Pricking Finger on Spinning Wheel's Spindle and Dying |
| Softened Curse | Falling into Deep Sleep Until True Love's Kiss |
| Time Period of Sleep | 100 Years |
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What You'll Learn
The role of the fairies
To protect Aurora from Maleficent, the three fairies raise her as a peasant in a woodcutter's cottage in the forest, giving her the name Briar Rose. They act as her adoptive mothers, keeping her safe until her sixteenth birthday when the spell can be broken. The fairies' role is a critical one, as they make the decisions that drive the action of the film, while Aurora herself has little agency.
In the Brothers Grimm version of the tale, Little Briar Rose, there are no fairies, and the princess is saved by a prince. Similarly, in the 2014 live-action reimagining of the Disney film, Maleficent, the focus is on the villain, and while there are pixies charged with raising Aurora, it is Maleficent herself who ultimately does so.
In other retellings of the story, such as the novel A Wicked Thing by Rhiannon Thomas, the author explores what happens after Aurora wakes up, including her reactions to the world around her and her feelings towards the prince. This novel aims to give Aurora more agency and explore her character in a way that the original film did not.
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The dream world of Maleficent's design
The design of this dream world is significant as it reflects Maleficent's power and her intent to keep Aurora captive. It is a realm where Maleficent's magic holds sway, and the very fabric of reality is shaped by her will. The dream world is likely a dark and foreboding place, filled with Maleficent's minions and obstacles designed to deter any who would attempt to rescue Aurora. It may also be a place of illusions and deception, where nothing is as it seems, mirroring the nature of dreams themselves.
In this dream world, time may not flow in a linear fashion, and Aurora could experience a distorted sense of reality. Her perception of time could be altered, with moments feeling like eternities and vice versa. The dream world could also be a realm of shifting landscapes, where Maleficent's castle looms large and menacing, surrounded by treacherous terrain that challenges any who dare approach.
The dream world is not just a passive setting but an active force in the story. It is a character in its own right, influencing the actions and decisions of those within it. It preys on the fears and insecurities of those trapped within, amplifying their doubts and testing their resolve. It is a place where Maleficent holds court, and her presence is felt in every corner, ensuring that her will is carried out.
As the story progresses, the dream world becomes a battleground where Aurora, in a surprising twist, transforms into a warrior. She rises up against Maleficent, refusing to remain a passive victim. She fights to break free from the dream world's grasp, to reclaim her agency and shape her destiny. Ultimately, it is through her own efforts, in addition to true love's kiss, that she escapes the dream world and defeats Maleficent.
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Aurora's passivity
Aurora's limited agency is evident in her minimal dialogue, with only eighteen lines in the film, and none in the second half. She is portrayed as a beautiful and delicate princess, lacking interesting qualities or a definable personality. Her role is primarily to be acted upon, and she is awakened by a stranger's kiss, expected to immediately fall in love and live happily ever after. This portrayal has been criticised as "naive and malleable", reinforcing stereotypes of passive princesses.
However, it is important to acknowledge that Aurora's passivity is not unique to the Disney version. In the Brothers Grimm, Perrault, and Basile versions of the tale, Aurora similarly lacks agency and does not drive the narrative. The Disney adaptation remains faithful to the original story in this aspect, and Aurora's character serves a specific narrative purpose within the context of a fairy tale.
Despite Aurora's passivity, some analysts have attempted to explore her character in more depth. One interpretation suggests that Aurora's initial passivity is a narrative device, emphasising her subsequent growth and transformation into a powerful warrior. In this light, her passivity is not a flaw but a starting point for her character development. Aurora's journey from confusion and powerlessness to strength and free will becomes the central theme of her story.
In modern retellings, such as Rhiannon Thomas' "Waking Up Aurora", the author explores the psychological implications of Aurora's situation. The novel delves into Aurora's feelings of disorientation, grief, and the difficulty of adjusting to a world that has changed during her slumber. This interpretation challenges the traditional passive princess trope by acknowledging her emotional complexity and the challenges she faces in reclaiming her agency.
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True love's kiss
The concept of "true love's kiss" is a prominent feature of the Sleeping Beauty fairy tale, and it is this kiss that ultimately awakens the titular character, Aurora, from her deep slumber. In the original tale, as well as various adaptations, this kiss is a pivotal moment that not only breaks the enchantment cast upon Aurora but also symbolises the power of true love to conquer all obstacles.
In the 1959 Disney animated film *Sleeping Beauty*, the story revolves around Princess Aurora, who is cursed by the evil fairy Maleficent as a newborn. The curse predicts that Aurora will prick her finger on a spinning wheel's spindle and fall into a deep sleep before her sixteenth birthday, only to be awakened by true love's kiss. On her sixteenth birthday, Aurora meets and falls in love with Prince Phillip, who is destined to be her true love. Despite the efforts of the three good fairies, Flora, Fauna, and Merryweather, to protect Aurora, she ultimately falls under Maleficent's spell and is transported to a dream world. It is then up to Phillip to confront Maleficent, defeat her, and awaken Aurora with a kiss.
The idea of true love's kiss has been a subject of discussion and interpretation in the context of Sleeping Beauty. Some critics and writers have questioned the passive nature of Aurora's character, arguing that she lacks agency and is merely a vessel for the plot. In response, there have been modern retellings and adaptations that explore Aurora's journey from passivity to empowerment. Rhiannon Thomas's novel *A Wicked Thing*, for example, begins where the traditional tale ends, delving into Aurora's disorientation, grief, and confusion upon waking up to a stranger's kiss.
In the 2014 live-action reimagining of the Disney film, titled *Maleficent*, the story is told from the perspective of the titular villainous fairy, offering a different interpretation of true love. In this version, Maleficent's pity for Aurora overcomes her initial rage, and she becomes a covert maternal figure to the princess. While the kiss of true love is not the central theme, the film explores the complex dynamics between the characters and the nature of their relationships.
Overall, the concept of true love's kiss in the Sleeping Beauty tale serves as a pivotal plot device, a symbol of the power of love, and a catalyst for character development and narrative progression. It has also sparked discussions about the portrayal of female characters in fairy tales and has inspired reinterpretations that challenge traditional gender roles and empower female protagonists.
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Aurora's life after waking up
Princess Aurora, also known as Briar Rose, is the main character in the 1959 Disney film Sleeping Beauty. She is the daughter of King Stefan and Queen Leah. When she is born, three good fairies bestow magical gifts upon her. However, an evil fairy, Maleficent, crashes the ceremony and curses the newborn. The curse predicts that Aurora will prick her finger on a spinning wheel's spindle and die before sunset on her sixteenth birthday. Fortunately, one of the good fairies, Merryweather, weakens the curse so that Aurora will only fall asleep and can be awakened by true love's kiss.
After the curse is placed, the three good fairies raise Aurora as a peasant in a woodcutter's cottage in the forest to protect her. On her sixteenth birthday, she meets and falls in love with Prince Phillip, her betrothed. However, Maleficent lures Aurora back to her parents' castle, where she pricks her finger and falls into a deep sleep. Phillip must then face Maleficent and her dragon to awaken Aurora with true love's kiss.
After Aurora wakes up, she is disoriented, overwhelmed, and grieving for the world she once knew. She is expected to immediately fall in love with Phillip and live happily ever after, and she initially goes along with this path. However, some critics argue that Aurora never grows as a character and remains passive throughout the film. She is often depicted as a damsel in distress, lacking agency and interesting qualities.
In the 2014 live-action film Maleficent, a re-imagining of the story from the villain's perspective, Aurora is portrayed as an elderly woman. She is raised covertly by Maleficent, who comes to regard the princess as her fairy godmother. In this version, Aurora becomes a warrior and rises up against Maleficent to break free from the dream world.
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Frequently asked questions
Aurora wakes up when she receives true love's kiss from a prince.
The prince that wakes Aurora up is Prince Phillip, who is immediately drawn to her enchanting singing voice.
After Aurora is woken up, she is struck by confusion and grief for the world she once knew. She is then expected to fall in love with the prince and live happily ever after.
The name of the villain in Sleeping Beauty is Maleficent, a powerful evil fairy and self-proclaimed "Mistress of All Evil".
