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Gender Stereotypes In 'Little Briar Rose'

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"Little Briar Rose," a famous fairy tale collected by the Grimm brothers, can be reconstructed through the lens of feminist literary theory to investigate and challenge established gender roles and expectations. This analysis looks at how femininity is portrayed in the story, the function of agency and power in the story, and the possibility of subversion and empowerment for female characters.

Gender stereotypes that get developed in typical fairy tales should be questioned and challenged, according to feminist literary theory. In the beginning, "Little Briar Rose" portrays Briar Rose as a weak female character who suffers from the curse of sleep. She represents the stereotype of a defenceless princess in need of rescue with no visible effort. …show more content…

The narrative focuses on her ultimate awakening, which is viewed as a metaphor for women's empowerment. Her built-in strength and resilience enable the realization to happen without any outside help. It disproves the stereotype that women need men to save them and instead highlights the strength any woman has to free themselves.

The prince's role is obviously a feminist criticism of male dominance in fairy tales. The prince in "Little Briar Rose" plays a supporting role rather than his regular position as the main character and sole owner of power. He happens to come across the castle and is mesmerized by Briar Rose's beauty. Therefore, the narrative challenges the idea that women's value is exclusively based on their physical looks while highlighting the significance of inner power and personal agency.

The representation of female relationships in the novel is another issue that needs to be viewed from a feminist viewpoint. The fairies that watch and look over Briar Rose as she sleeps magically can be viewed as representations of feminine support and solidarity. Their presence exposes the possibility of community empowerment through sisterhood and weakens the stereotypical view of women as

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