Little Red Riding Hood

Little Red Riding Hood is a folktale that has changed much in its history. It may be a children's story, but it contains within it themes of sexual intercourse, violence and even cannibalism. The tale makes the clearest contrast between the safe world of the village and the dangers of the forest, conventional antitheses that are essentially medieval, though no versions are as old as that.

Interpretations

There are many interpretations of the classic fairy tale.

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Prostitution One of the more common interpretations referrs to a classic warning against becoming a "working girl." This builds off of the fundamental "young girl in the woods" stereotype. The red cloak was also a classic signal of a prostitute in 17th century France.

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Sexual Awakening

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Red Riding Hood has also been seen as a parable of sexual maturity. In this interpretation, the red cloak symbolizes the menstrual cycle and the entry into puberty, braving the "dark forest" of womanhood. The anthropomorphic wolf symbolizes a man, a sexual predator.

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