Ashwin Lewis
The tale of Sleeping Beauty has been told in many different ways, from the original French story by Charles Perrault to the Brothers Grimm's version, and, of course, the Disney adaptation. In most versions, the princess is awakened by a kiss from a prince, though in the original story by Perrault, the prince does not kiss the princess to wake her. The princess's age when kissed is never explicitly stated, but in the Disney version, the prince is four years older than Aurora, who is 16, and in the original story, he is thought to be around 4-8 years old at the beginning.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Age of Sleeping Beauty when kissed by the prince | 16 years old |
| Age of Prince when he kissed Sleeping Beauty | 20 years old |
| Name of Sleeping Beauty | Princess Aurora |
| Name of the Prince | Prince Phillip |
| Name of Sleeping Beauty's parents | King Stefan and Queen |
| Name of the Prince's parents | King Hubert and an ogress |
| Other names of Sleeping Beauty | Rosamund, Briar Rose |
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What You'll Learn
In the original story, the prince does not kiss Sleeping Beauty
The story of Sleeping Beauty has been adapted and retold numerous times, with many variations. In one of the earliest versions, "Sun, Moon, and Talia" by Giambattista Basile, the sleeping beauty, Talia, falls into a deep sleep after getting a splinter of flax in her finger. She is discovered by a wandering prince who takes her to bed and "gathers the first fruits of love". He then abandons her, and she later gives birth to twins while still unconscious. This version of the story includes assault and infidelity, with the prince taking advantage of the sleeping Talia.
In Charles Perrault's version, "The Sleeping Beauty in the Wood", published more than a century before the Grimm Brothers' tale, the prince does not kiss the princess to wake her up. Instead, he finds her asleep and is struck by her beauty. The spell is broken, and the princess awakens on her own, bestowing upon the prince a look "more tender than a first glance might seem to warrant". They converse for a long time, fall in love, and eventually marry.
The Brothers Grimm included a variant of Sleeping Beauty, "Little Briar Rose", in the first volume of "Children's and Household Tales" published in 1812. In their version, the prince arrives to wake Sleeping Beauty with a kiss. However, they considered rejecting the story because it was too similar to Perrault's version. Interestingly, in none of the Teutonic myths are the sleepers awakened with a kiss.
In the Disney adaptation of Sleeping Beauty, Prince Phillip wakes Princess Aurora with a kiss, which has been criticised as problematic due to the power dynamics and the fact that Aurora is a minor.
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The prince was four years older than 16-year-old Sleeping Beauty
The story of Sleeping Beauty has been told and retold many times, with various interpretations of the famous fairy tale. The original French tale by Charles Perrault does not feature a kiss that wakes the princess. Instead, the prince converses with the princess for a long time after the spell is broken. The Brothers Grimm version ends with the prince waking the princess with a kiss.
The Disney version of Sleeping Beauty, released in 1959, features a kiss that breaks the sleeping curse. In this version, the prince is four years older than the 16-year-old Princess Aurora. This has been criticised as problematic, given that Aurora is a minor. However, others argue that the kiss is not creepy within the context of the fairy tale.
In the original French story, the prince is from another royal family and his mother is an ogress. After the princess awakens, the prince visits her for four years, and she bears him two children. When the prince ascends the throne, he brings his wife and children to his kingdom.
The age difference between the prince and princess in the story of Sleeping Beauty has been a source of controversy, with some interpreting the kiss as an assault. The lack of consent in the story has been a point of contention, as the princess is unconscious when she is kissed by the prince.
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Sleeping Beauty's lack of consent
The story of Sleeping Beauty has been told in many ways over the years, but the central plot remains the same. A princess is cursed to sleep for a hundred years, only to be awoken by a prince's kiss. However, this romantic tale takes a problematic turn when examined through a modern lens, particularly regarding the issue of consent.
The titular Sleeping Beauty, from the story's very beginning, is never offered the chance to consent to anything. As an infant, she is given "blessings" that alter her life and, later, a curse that overrides her free will. The prince's kiss, therefore, becomes a contentious act. In the original French tale by Perrault, the prince does not kiss the princess at all, and they converse for a long time after she awakens. However, in the Brothers Grimm version, the prince kisses the sleeping princess to wake her, and in the Disney adaptation, the prince kisses and awakens her, and they share another kiss later.
The issue of consent in the story of Sleeping Beauty has sparked debates about whether the prince's kiss constitutes assault. Some argue that the prince's action is more "creepy than romantic," especially given the power dynamics between the two characters and the fact that Aurora is a minor. The prince is actively seeking out the princess, and his kiss could be seen as an imposition of his will upon her, regardless of her state of consciousness. This interpretation is further supported by the fact that there are signs telling him not to kiss her.
On the other hand, some defenders of the tale argue that the kiss is not creepy within the context of the story. They suggest that, despite her passive role, Aurora's lack of confusion or fear after being kissed indicates a level of agency and consent. Additionally, in the Disney version, Phillip falls in love with Aurora before knowing she is a princess, suggesting that their connection transcends social status.
The interpretation of Sleeping Beauty's consent, or lack thereof, is a complex and multifaceted issue that has sparked ongoing debates. While some view the prince's kiss as an act of true love, breaking the spell and awakening the princess, others see it as an infringement on her autonomy, highlighting the problematic nature of imposing romantic gestures on an unconscious person.
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The prince's kiss broke the curse
The tale of Sleeping Beauty is a complicated one, with various interpretations of the famous kiss that broke the curse. The original story by Charles Perrault does not feature a kiss at all; instead, the prince converses with the princess for a long time after the spell is broken. In the Brothers Grimm version, the prince kisses the princess to wake her, but she is not a minor as in the Disney version, where Prince Phillip kisses the 16-year-old Princess Aurora.
In defence of the kiss in Sleeping Beauty, some argue that the most popular versions of the story, including Perrault, Grimm, and Disney, have made the kiss not creepy. In the Disney version, Aurora does not appear confused or scared after the kiss, indicating that she is comfortable with Phillip's actions.
However, others view the kiss in a more negative light, especially considering that the princess does not consent to it. The princess is asleep and therefore unable to give consent, which has led to criticism of the tale, with some arguing that it promotes assault.
The prince's kiss has been a topic of debate, with some seeing it as romantic and others as problematic. The interpretation of the story and the kiss varies, and it is open to individual perception.
The prince's kiss breaking the curse is a pivotal moment in the story of Sleeping Beauty, and it has sparked discussions about consent and agency in fairytales. The tale has been retold and reinterpreted over the years, with various versions emphasising different aspects of the story.
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The prince was from another royal family
It is a well-known fairy tale that has been adapted and retold numerous times, with varying details and interpretations. One of the most famous versions is the Disney animated film, "Sleeping Beauty," released in 1959. In this version, the prince is named Prince Philip, and he is said to be of royal blood, implying that he is from another royal family. This is evident from the film's portrayal of his luxurious lifestyle and regal mannerisms.
The original tale, titled "The Sleeping Beauty in the Wood," was written by Charles Perrault and published in 1697. In this version, the prince's background is not explicitly mentioned, but it is implied that he is of noble birth as he is referred to as "a fine young prince" and is said to have been traveling through the kingdom when he discovered the sleeping princess.
In both versions of the story, the prince's royal status is an important aspect of the narrative. It emphasizes the fairy-tale quality of the story and reinforces the idea that the princess, Aurora, is worthy of a prince's love and rescue. By depicting the prince as being from another royal family, the story highlights the exclusivity and prestige associated with royal marriages in that fictional fairy-tale world.
The prince's royal background also adds a layer of complexity to the story. In some interpretations, the prince is betrothed to the sleeping princess, Aurora, by their respective kingdoms, suggesting political alliances and arranged marriages common in royal families. This element introduces a potential conflict or tension in the story, as the prince may struggle between his duty to his kingdom and his love for the princess.
Additionally, the prince's royal status can be seen as a symbol of power and heroism. In the Disney version, for example, Prince Philip is brave and adventurous, and he risks his life to battle the dragon and save Aurora. His royal background emphasizes his role as a heroic figure, reinforcing the idea of princes as valiant knights in shining armor.
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Frequently asked questions
It is not clear exactly how old Sleeping Beauty was when she was kissed by the prince. In one version of the story, she is 20 years old when she marries the prince.
The name of the prince differs depending on the version of the story. In the Brothers Grimm version, the prince is not named, whereas in the Disney version, the prince is called Phillip.
The name of the princess differs depending on the version of the story. In the Brothers Grimm version, she is called Rosamund, while in the Disney version, she is called Aurora.
The plot of Sleeping Beauty involves a princess who is cursed to sleep for 100 years until she is awoken by a kiss from a prince. In some versions of the story, the prince is from another royal family and discovers the hidden castle during a hunting expedition.
Some interpretations of the Sleeping Beauty fairy tale include sexual assault, feminism, and cosmic interpretations that liken the sleeping princess to the earth-goddess who sinks into a long winter sleep.
