The Sinister Fairytales- Part 1

The world seems full of good men, even when there are monsters in it

Remember how we were promised that our Prince Charming is just around the corner and will take us to his fairytale castle and everything will be alright in the world and we will get our dream fairytale happy ending. One might even say that the classic fairytales are the cradle of today’s rom-com movies. Everyone is familiar with the classics and knows them by heart and enjoy every second of it even after oh-so-many years. But sorry to break it to you, Disney diluted the original disturbing classic collection of the Grimm brothers and turned it to a bunch of merry-go-round tales.

The Grimm Brothers are originally from German in the late 19th century and loved to include gory details in every story they penned. I have put together all the little details Disney cut off from our beloved fairytales and hid their sinister origin.

1. Cinderella

How magical is the story of Cinderella? Isn’t the whole message of the movie was to be kind and hope for the best? Cinderella was kind to her evil stepmother and cruel stepsisters even after they forced her to toil hard in the kitchens and scrub the tiles until they sparkled, but eventually fortune served her in the form of a Fairy God mother who transformed her into a sparkly blue dream for one night. So do you remember the one major detail that helped Cinderella achieve her fairy tale ending? Yes, the little pair of glass slippers that completed her glamorous attire for the ball night and the exact same one she left behind in the castle steps in all her haste when the clock striked twelve. And then the Prince finds her, birds sing, they lock lips and everything is alright in the world. In the original Grimm Brothers’ version, the stepsisters end up having a twisted fate. Even though Cinderella does get her happy ending, the wicked step sisters end up as blind beggars for the rest of their lives after the doves from Cinderella’s wedding, yes those white, magical doves peck out their eyes.

2. Snow White

Ah, yes, Snow White, the lonely orphan princess who carried a target in the back from day one. We all know how the fairest of them all fared after the Evil Queen recruited the Huntsmen to assassinate the heir to the throne. The little princess spent merry days with her chummies, the seven dwarves and then met her one true love in the woods. The Evil Queen finds out about her nemesis step daughter’s existence and sets out to kill her by herself in the form of an old woman, now that she had become aware that she can’t trust anyone else to execute the kind princess. The Evil Queen aka the old crone offers a poisonous apple to naïve Snow White; she then takes a bite and falls into a deep sleep. Spoiler Alert, Prince Charming stumbles upon her glass coffin, finds her body and kisses her pale lips, teary eyed.

We are well aware that the Queen demanded Snow White’s heart after the huntsmen kills her and it is obvious that the heart was just for the confirmation of her death and of course, spoils of the beauty battle. The Grimm brothers wrote that the Queen had not only asked for Snow White’s heart but also for her liver and lungs for supper. How gruesome can it get? And originally Snow White dies in their tale. And Prince Charming turns out to be a creepy pervert who commands his guards to carry her corpse for them to ‘enjoy’ later. Fortunately, the bumpy trip to the Castle dislodged the apple piece from Snow White’s throat and saved her. So plot twist, Prince Charming didn’t save her, bumpy road did. Later at their Royal wedding, the Evil Queen paid them a not-so-friendly, jealousy-spiked visit but was captured and was forced to dance wearing hot iron boots until she dropped dead. Definitely, not family friendly!

3. Little Red Riding Hood

The family favourite tale is about a little girl who is popularly known for her choice of attire: A Red Riding hood. This story is to enlighten young minds about the dangers of talking with strangers and throws light on stalking. The little girl is all happy and giddy to visit her granny who lives in the woods. On the way to her cottage, she meets a Big Bad Wolf who enquires about her travel. After she gives out all the major details, the Wolf plans to devour her. Fast forward, the Big bad Wolf hides poor granny in the closet and wears her clothing and hides under the cosy blankets. But before the Wolf could make a meal out of poor little Red Riding Hood, a brave huntsman saves her.

Here is how it was really supposed to happen. Red Riding Hood unknowingly takes part in cannibalism and drinks her granny’s blood which was set aside in a wine glass by the Wolf. Yikes! Of course she would have thought it was wine, but a little girl drinking wine isn’t appropriate either. No huntsman in this tale, little Red Riding hood climbs the bed after removing her clothing to lay aside her granny and meets her horrible death.