Sleeping Beauty

1697 France

Story

Once upon a time, there was a king and queen who longed for a child. Their wish was granted when a beautiful daughter named Aurora was born. To celebrate the royal baby's arrival, the king and queen invited fairies to bestow gifts upon the newborn princess.

However, an evil fairy who hadn't been invited to the celebration appeared, cursing Aurora to prick her finger on a spinning wheel and die on her sixteenth birthday. A good fairy, who had not yet given her gift, altered the curse so that instead of dying, Aurora would fall into a deep sleep for a hundred years.

In an attempt to protect their daughter, the king and queen banned all spinning wheels from the kingdom. Despite their efforts, on Aurora's sixteenth birthday, she discovered an old woman in a hidden part of the castle who was spinning. Curious, Aurora approached and pricked her finger on the spindle, fulfilling the curse.

The good fairy, witnessing the tragedy, cast a powerful spell that put the entire kingdom to sleep, ensuring they would awaken along with Aurora after a hundred years. Over time, a thicket of thorns grew around the castle, concealing it from view.

Years passed, and a prince heard the tale of the Sleeping Beauty. Determined to find her, he braved the thorns and, upon reaching the castle, discovered the enchanting scene of the sleeping princess and her kingdom. Overwhelmed by her beauty, the prince leaned down and kissed Aurora.

The magic of true love's kiss broke the curse. Aurora, along with the entire court, woke from their century-long slumber. The prince and Aurora were joyously united, and the kingdom rejoiced in the awakening.

History and Meaning

The most well-known versions are Charles Perrault's "La Belle au bois dormant" and the Brothers Grimm's "Dornröschen." Perrault's version, published in 1697, is one of the earliest written versions of the tale, while the Grimm Brothers' rendition came later in the 19th century.

Perrault's version drew inspiration from existing European folktales and combined them with his own narrative flair. His rendition introduced the elements of the curse, the spinning wheel, and the hundred years of sleep. Perrault's stories, including "Sleeping Beauty," became part of the literary canon and laid the foundation for the fairy tale genre.

The Brothers Grimm, known for their collection "Grimm's Fairy Tales," adapted and popularized folk stories for a German audience. In their version of "Sleeping Beauty" titled "Dornröschen," they retained some elements from Perrault's tale but added their own twists, contributing to the narrative's evolution.

The tale of "Sleeping Beauty" has deeper roots in folklore and mythology. Similar stories can be found in various cultures, often involving a maiden who falls into a deep sleep and is awakened by a prince or hero. The archetypal theme of a dormant princess awaiting rescue is a recurring motif in world mythology.

The symbolism of sleep and awakening in "Sleeping Beauty" has been interpreted in various ways. Some see it as a metaphor for the changing seasons, with the princess's awakening representing the arrival of spring. Others view it as a narrative about the passage of time and the cyclical nature of life.

The story's enduring appeal is shown in its many adaptations, including Tchaikovsky's ballet adaptation and Disney's film "Sleeping Beauty" (1959).