Herbie Murray
Sleeping Beauty is a fairy tale about a princess who is put under a spell that makes her sleep for a hundred years and is awakened by a prince's kiss. The fairy tale has been adapted countless times throughout history and retold by modern storytellers across various media. The phrase Sleeping Beauty is also used to refer to someone who has been asleep for a long time, or as a sarcastic term for someone who has overslept. The story has been criticised by modern-day feminists who consider the protagonist to have no agency and find her passivity to be offensive.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Type of story | Fairy tale |
| Main character | Princess |
| Princess's name | Rosamund, Aurora |
| Princess's state | Sleeping, under a spell |
| Duration of sleep | 100 years |
| Awakener | A prince |
| Awakener's action | Kisses the princess |
| Spell reversal | Kiss |
| Marital status at the end | Married to the prince |
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What You'll Learn
The fairy tale of Sleeping Beauty
In the original story, a princess is cursed by a wicked fairy, who foretells that the princess will die when she pricks her finger on a particular item, which varies depending on the version of the tale. In some, it is a spindle, while in others, it is a piece of flax. Despite their efforts to protect their daughter, the king and queen cannot prevent the prophecy from being fulfilled, and the princess falls into an enchanted sleep.
In some versions of the tale, the princess is impregnated in her sleep and gives birth to twins, Sun and Moon. The children draw out the flax from their mother's finger, breaking the spell. In other variants, the princess is awakened by a kiss from a prince, as in the Brothers Grimm version, where the princess is named Rosamund. In the Grimm version, the fairies are wise women rather than magical creatures.
The tale has been the subject of criticism by modern-day feminists, who view the protagonist as passive and lacking agency. Disney's depiction of Sleeping Beauty as a "naïve and malleable" character has been particularly disparaged, with some arguing that the story should no longer be told. Despite this controversy, "Sleeping Beauty" remains a beloved fairy tale that has captured the imaginations of audiences for centuries.
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The Disney movie
Sleeping Beauty is a 1959 animated feature produced by Walt Disney Productions, based on Charles Perrault's 1697 fairy tale of the same name. It is the 16th animated feature in the Disney Animated Canon and was released to theatres on January 29, 1959, by Buena Vista Film Distribution. The film was initially a box office failure, but has since made up for its losses through several re-releases in theatres over the decades.
The story centres around Princess Aurora, who, upon her birth, is cursed by the tale's antagonist, Maleficent. Maleficent announces that Aurora will die on her 16th birthday by pricking her finger on a spinning wheel. However, one of the three good fairies raising Aurora secretly alters this spell, ensuring that she will instead fall into a deep sleep. The film follows Aurora's parents' difficult decision to send their daughter away to live in hiding with the three fairies, protecting her from Maleficent's interference.
As Aurora grows into a young woman, she meets and falls in love with Prince Phillip, unaware of her true identity as a princess. Phillip is the first Disney prince to actively fight for his love, even going against his parents' wishes and choosing to marry for love rather than wealth or status. He also takes on a proactive role in saving Aurora, her parents, and the kingdom from the sleeping spell by defeating Maleficent.
The film is known for its distinct visuals, magnificent music, and dazzling animation. It is considered one of the most visually appealing Disney movies of all time, with stylized panoramas combining Gothic French, Italian, and pre-Renaissance influences. The musical score, based on Tchaikovsky's Sleeping Beauty, adds to the timeless, fairy tale feeling of the film.
Despite some criticism for its stereotypical characters and similarities to previous Disney films like Snow White and Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty remains a beloved classic that has enchanted generations of audiences with its magic and charm.
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A princess under a spell
The fairy tale of Sleeping Beauty is a classic story of a princess under a spell. The princess, cursed by an evil fairy or wicked godmother, is forced into an enchanted sleep from which she can only be awoken by true love's kiss. This usually takes the form of a prince, whose kiss breaks the spell and awakens the princess. The tale has its roots in medieval romance, with early versions dating back to the 14th century.
The story of Sleeping Beauty, also known as "the beauty in the wood sleeping", has been told and retold countless times, with various interpretations and influences. The fairy tale, as we know it today, is a simple narrative of a sleeping princess and her prince. However, it has been criticised by modern-day feminists who find the passive nature of the protagonist offensive and argue that the princess, who sleeps for most of the story, lacks agency and interesting qualities.
In the original Brothers Grimm version, the fairies are wise women, and the princess is named Rosamund. The Grimm Brothers' tale was influenced by earlier stories, such as the sleeping Brynhild in the Volsunga saga and the tale of Genevieve of Brabant, where a princess and her children are hidden from harm. The Italian poet Giambattista Basile published the story in the 17th century, with the princess pricking her finger on a piece of flax, while in the Grimm and Perrault versions, the item is a spindle.
The Aarne-Thompson classification system for fairy tales lists Sleeping Beauty as Type 410, a tale of a princess who is magically forced into sleep and later awoken, reversing the magic. This type of tale has been adapted and retold across various media, with Disney's classic animated film being one of the most well-known interpretations. The Disney version, along with Cinderella and Snow White, has been criticised for depicting the princess as "naive and malleable".
Sleeping Beauty is a fairy tale that has endured and captured the imagination of audiences for centuries. While the story has faced criticism for its portrayal of the princess, it remains a beloved and iconic part of our cultural heritage.
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A kiss from a prince
The fairy tale of Sleeping Beauty is a classic story of a beautiful princess who falls under a magical spell, causing her to sleep for a long time. In the original tale, it is only when a prince kisses her that she is awakened from her slumber. This has led to the term 'Sleeping Beauty' being used to refer to someone who has been asleep for a long time. The story has been adapted and retold many times over the centuries, with different variations emerging.
The Sleeping Beauty fairy tale, as we know it today, is a simple story of a princess cursed by a wicked fairy or godmother, who is rescued by a prince's kiss. However, the tale has deeper roots and more complex origins. The original story is much older and was first published by Italian poet Giambattista Basile in the 17th century. In this version, the princess pricks her finger on a piece of flax, fulfilling a prophecy made by a wicked fairy. Basile's version does not include the prince's kiss, and the story ends when the prince arrives to find the sleeping princess.
The Brothers Grimm also included a version of the tale in their collection, in which the princess falls asleep after pricking her finger on a spindle. Their version is influenced by Teutonic myths and early Christian hagiography, and the sleepers are not awakened with a kiss. The Grimm Brothers' version is notable for its inclusion of wise women instead of fairies. The tale was also adapted by Perrault, whose version includes the prince's kiss and serves as the basis for the Disney film.
The Disney adaptation of Sleeping Beauty has received criticism for its depiction of the princess as a "naïve and malleable" character, lacking agency and interesting qualities. Modern-day feminists have disparaged the story for its passive female protagonist, with some arguing that the tale should no longer be told. Despite this controversy, the story remains a beloved classic, with the iconic Sleeping Beauty Castle in Disneyland standing as a testament to its enduring appeal.
The phrase "a kiss from a prince" thus evokes the image of Sleeping Beauty being awakened by her prince, a symbol of true love's kiss breaking the spell and rescuing the damsel in distress. This romantic notion has been a recurring theme in fairy tales, with Snow White and Cinderella also ending with the princesses being rescued by their princes. While the passive nature of these princesses has drawn criticism, the tales continue to capture the imagination of audiences worldwide, with the Sleeping Beauty story in particular serving as a metaphor for something or someone who is undervalued or has unrealized potential.
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A term for someone who slept in
"Sleeping Beauty" is a well-known fairy tale about a princess who is put under a spell and sleeps for a long time—in some versions of the story, a hundred years. She is eventually awakened by a prince, who breaks the spell with a kiss. The tale has been adapted many times, most famously by Disney, and the name "Sleeping Beauty" is often used to refer to the story itself.
The term "Sleeping Beauty" can also be used to refer to someone who has overslept. This usage plays on the fairy tale and may be used sarcastically or humorously to rouse a sleepy person: "Good morning, Sleeping Beauty!"
In addition to its literal meaning, "Sleeping Beauty" has also been used metaphorically to describe undervalued assets or businesses that have the potential to be very successful. In this sense, it refers to something that has been overlooked or underappreciated but could be of great value if given the right attention or investment.
The story of "Sleeping Beauty" has been criticised by some modern-day feminists, who find the protagonist's passivity offensive and argue that she has no agency in the narrative. However, others have defended the character, and the tale remains a popular and influential part of our cultural heritage.
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Frequently asked questions
Sleeping Beauty is a fairy tale about a princess who is put under a spell that makes her sleep for a hundred years. She is eventually awakened by a prince's kiss.
The name "Sleeping Beauty" literally means "the beauty, in the wood, sleeping". The present participle "sleeping" refers to the princess, not the wood.
The tale of Sleeping Beauty may have been influenced by the story of Genevieve of Brabant, the sleeping Brynhild in the Volsunga saga, and early Christian hagiography conventions.
The Sleeping Beauty tale has been criticised by modern-day feminists who consider the protagonist to be passive and lacking agency. Disney has also been criticised for depicting the princess as a "naïve and malleable" character.
Yes, "Sleeping Beauty" can also be used to refer to something or someone that is more valuable or useful than people thought. For example, "the villas at the foot of Mount Vesuvius remain the sleeping beauties of Western culture".
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