"Red Riding Hood" As a 14th Century Morality Tale


source moviemobsters

The remake of the 1960’s movie Red Riding Hood will debut at theaters this weekend.  Ahead of its release critics and fans of Twilight have weighed it’s similarities to the Twilight Saga.  The discussion arises more or less because both Twilight and Red Riding Hood were directed by Catherine Hardwicke, both feature a love triangle, both center on a young heroine and both involve a werewolf. 

There may be cinematic similarities and a few closely related story lines regarding the love triangle.  The main criticism has been the use of a werewolf in Red Riding Hood as critics feel it harkens too much to Jacob from the Twilight story.  If you understand the history of the fairy tale there is no rational reason to criticize the use of a werewolf in Red Riding Hood. Call it coincidence if you must.

The tale of Red Riding Hood, on the other hand, dates back to the 14th century when it was told orally in parts of France and Italy.  It is a dark morality tale filled with sinister beings and metaphorical images. It served as a warning to young girls coming of age to be wary of strangers, particularly strange men.  The wolf served as the metaphorical bad guy, ready to take advantage of young unsuspecting women. 

If Red Riding Hood should follow its roots as a morality tale it makes perfect sense for the wolf to actually be a character of many faces.  Werewolves take one form at night and another during the day making them perfect metaphors for deception.

Hardwicke’s film takes its lead from the darker more sinister 14th century version.

Set in a medieval village, the story surrounds Valerie, the death of her older sister and the menacing werewolf.  Valerie is promised in marriage to a wealthy villager but doesn’t love him.  She plans to run away with the orphaned woodcutter, whom she does love, when her sister is killed by the big bad wolf.  She stays but is then used as bait by the werewolf hunter to trap the wolf. 

Problems arise when it is discovered that the werewolf could be any one of the villagers as it takes human form during the day.  Creating a tense situation as no one quite knows who to trust.  Valerie is captured and the man she was promised to approaches the one she loves with a plan to save her from the wolf, not unlike Edward and Jacob joining forces to save Bella.

Something tells me there is a twist in this story line and the wolf could easily be Valerie’s lover.

Source: http://blog.starcam.com/post/Red-Riding-Hood.aspx

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