Gina Johnson
The prologue of Sleeping Beauty introduces the audience to the magical world of fairies and the royal court. It sets the stage for the enchanting tale of a princess under a spell, cursed to sleep for a hundred years. The prologue opens with the birth of a princess, a time of great celebration, as seven fairies are invited to be her godmothers. However, an old fairy, feeling forgotten and disrespected, arrives uninvited and places a curse on the child, proclaiming that one day she will prick her finger and fall into a deep sleep. This dark twist sets the tone for the rest of the story, as the audience is left wondering if the princess will ever be freed from the enchantment.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Setting | Russia in the 17th and 18th centuries |
| Fashion | Byzantine manners and fashion |
| Main Characters | Princess Aurora, Prince Desiré, Lilac Fairy, Fairy of Darkness, King, Queen Mother, Maleficent |
| Conflict | Princess Aurora is cursed to prick her finger and fall into a deep sleep for 100 years |
| Resolution | Prince Desiré awakens Princess Aurora with a kiss, breaking the spell |
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What You'll Learn
Princess Aurora's christening
The prologue of Sleeping Beauty introduces the audience to the Imperial court of Russia in the 17th and 18th centuries, where society is still bound by Byzantine manners and fashion. The birth of Princess Aurora, the long-wished-for child of a Tsar and Tsarina, is celebrated with a grand christening ceremony.
All the fairies of the kingdom are invited to the christening, and they bestow their gifts upon the princess. The first fairy, the Fairy of Tenderness, gives Princess Aurora the gift of tenderness. The second fairy, the Fairy of Playfulness, gives her the gift of playfulness. This is followed by the Fairy of Generosity, who bestows upon the princess the gift of generosity. The fourth fairy, the Fairy of Serenity, gives Princess Aurora the gift of serenity, and finally, the fifth fairy, the Fairy of Courage, bestows upon her the gift of courage.
However, an old fairy, the Fairy of Darkness, arrives at the feast furious that she had been forgotten and not invited. She is given plates of china and a crystal drinking glass, which only angers her further. In retaliation, she curses the child, proclaiming that Princess Aurora will one day prick her finger on a spinning wheel and die.
The benevolent Lilac Fairy, the sixth fairy, steps forward to soften the curse. She promises that Aurora will not die but will instead fall into a deep sleep for one hundred years and be awakened by a prince's kiss. Thus, the prologue sets the stage for the enchanting tale of Sleeping Beauty, where true love conquers all and good triumphs over evil.
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The Lilac Fairy's gift
The Lilac Fairy is one of the benevolent fairies who bestows gifts on Princess Aurora at her christening. The other fairies present at the Imperial Court give the princess gifts of tenderness, playfulness, generosity, serenity, and courage.
In the San Francisco Ballet's production of "The Sleeping Beauty," the Lilac Fairy continues to play a role in the story even after Aurora's christening. In Act II, she shows Prince Desiré a vision of Aurora and takes him through the magical forest to the hidden palace where Aurora sleeps. The Lilac Fairy thus brings about the fulfilment of her own prophecy, ensuring that Aurora is awakened by true love's kiss.
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The Fairy of Darkness' curse
The Fairy of Darkness's curse is a central plot point in the fairy tale of Sleeping Beauty. The tale begins with the birth of a princess, whose parents invite fairies to be her godmothers and bestow gifts upon her. However, an old fairy, known as the Fairy of Darkness, is furious when she is forgotten and not invited to the feast. In retaliation, she places a curse on the newborn princess, proclaiming that one day, the princess will prick her finger on a spinning wheel and die.
In some versions of the tale, the evil fairy's curse is modified by other fairies, softening the blow. Instead of death, the princess will fall into a deep sleep for one hundred years, only to be awakened by true love's kiss. This is a classic example of a fairy tale trope, where a character's fate is sealed by a prophecy or a curse, creating a sense of impending doom.
The Fairy of Darkness's curse sets in motion a chain of events that form the basis of the story. The princess's life unfolds under the shadow of this prophecy, and the audience is left wondering if and when the curse will be fulfilled. This creates suspense and adds a layer of complexity to the narrative.
As the story progresses, the princess, now grown, encounters an old woman spinning outside her window. Intrigued, she approaches and takes the spindle, inadvertently pricking her finger and fulfilling the curse. She falls into a deep sleep, just as the Fairy of Darkness had foretold.
The curse not only affects the princess but also has repercussions for the entire kingdom. As the princess slumbers, the fairy puts everyone else in the castle under a sleeping spell as well, causing the kingdom to come to a standstill. This showcases the far-reaching impact of the Fairy of Darkness's actions and adds a sense of urgency to the story as the characters race against time to find a solution.
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Princess Aurora pricks her finger
The prologue of Sleeping Beauty introduces the audience to the magical world of fairies and the Imperial court of Russia in the 17th and 18th centuries. The prologue sets the stage for the enchanting tale of Princess Aurora, who is about to prick her finger and fall under a spell.
Princess Aurora, the beloved daughter of the Tsar and Tsarina, has reached a significant milestone in her life as she celebrates her birthday. This occasion is marked by a grand ball, where she dances with four suitors, seeking her hand in marriage. However, amidst the revelry, an old woman approaches the princess with a peculiar gift—a spindle. Unaware of the impending danger, Princess Aurora delights in this curious object, playing with it innocently.
As Princess Aurora handles the spindle, a tragic turn of events unfolds. She accidentally pricks her finger, fulfilling the curse that had been placed upon her. This curse, cast by a vengeful fairy, predicted that the princess would one day meet her demise through this very action. The moment Princess Aurora pricks her finger, a hush falls upon the court as they realise the gravity of what has just transpired.
The princess, unaware of the prophecy, is initially confused by the sudden attention. She may even feel a strange sensation spreading throughout her body, a feeling unlike anything she has experienced before. As the room falls silent, the weight of the fairy's curse becomes apparent to all present. The old woman, perhaps realising the part she has inadvertently played, may call for help, her voice filled with anguish.
The king, overcome with grief and accepting fate, orders his daughter to be laid in the finest room, where she is placed upon a quilt of embroidered silver and gold. They bid her a sorrowful goodbye, knowing that she is destined to remain asleep for a hundred years. The seventh fairy, possessing the gift of foresight, predicts that when Princess Aurora awakens, she will be distraught to find herself alone. Driven by compassion, the fairy casts a spell, enchanting everyone in the castle to fall asleep alongside the princess.
This prologue sets the stage for the rest of the tale, where Princess Aurora's life hangs in the balance, awaiting the true love's kiss that will break the spell and awaken her from her slumber.
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Princess Aurora falls into a deep sleep
The story of Sleeping Beauty begins with the birth of a princess, named Aurora. At her christening, seven fairies are invited to be her godmothers, and they bestow gifts on her, including beauty, grace, dance, song, wit, and goodness. However, an old fairy who was forgotten and not invited to the banquet arrives and, out of retaliation, curses the child. The curse is that one day, the princess will prick her finger on a spinning wheel and die.
In the San Francisco Ballet's production, the story is set in Russia in the 17th and 18th centuries. The ballet opens with a grand celebration of Princess Aurora's christening, where all the fairies of the kingdom are invited. The fairies of Tenderness, Playfulness, Generosity, Serenity, and Courage bestow gifts on the princess. Finally, the Lilac Fairy makes an offering. She cannot remove the curse but promises that Aurora will not die from pricking her finger. Instead, she will fall into a deep sleep for one hundred years and be awakened by a prince's kiss.
Sixteen years pass, and the kingdom celebrates Princess Aurora's birthday. An old woman approaches the princess and offers her a gift—a spindle. Intrigued by the curious object, Aurora plays with it and pricks her finger. She falls to the ground, and the curse takes effect.
Princess Aurora has fallen into a deep sleep. She is carried to the finest room in the castle and laid on a quilt of embroidered silver and gold. The seventh fairy foresees that when Aurora awakens, she will be distraught to find herself alone. To prevent this, the fairy enchants everyone in the castle to fall asleep with her. She summons trees and brambles to cover the castle so they will not be disturbed.
One hundred years pass. A prince from another family is riding in the woods and comes upon the castle. He is struck by Aurora's beauty and kisses her, awakening her and breaking the enchantment. The entire kingdom celebrates the wedding of Princess Aurora and the prince.
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Frequently asked questions
The prologue is set in Russia in the 17th and 18th centuries, before and after the reign of Peter the Great.
The prologue introduces the birth of Princess Aurora and the christening celebration, where fairies bestow gifts on her.
The prologue features Princess Aurora, her parents, the Tsar and Tsarina, and various fairies, including the Lilac Fairy and the Fairy of Darkness.
The prologue sets the stage for the main conflict of the story, introducing the characters and establishing the magical and celebratory tone.
Yes, in some versions of the tale, such as Giambattista Basile's "Sun, Moon, and Talia", the prologue may include details of prophecies or efforts by the princess's parents to protect her from harm.
