Elena Rossi
The classic tale of Rapunzel, a girl with long, golden hair trapped in a tower, has been adapted and translated numerous times since its first written version in 1634. The Brothers Grimm published their version of the story in 1812, with a subsequent edition in 1857. This version is considered darker than later adaptations, including the Disney musical and the 2010 film Tangled. In the Grimm version, Rapunzel is locked in a tower by an evil witch, Dame Gothel, who visits her by climbing up her hair. In the tower, Rapunzel sings day after day while sorting her hair, and in some adaptations, she is depicted as a painter. However, it is unclear if the Grimms' version of Rapunzel includes this detail.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Rapunzel's parents | A couple longing for a child |
| Rapunzel's birth | The woman gives birth to a baby girl |
| Dame Gothel | An evil witch who owns a garden of rampion |
| The deal | Dame Gothel takes away the baby as per the deal with the baby's father |
| Rapunzel's imprisonment | Dame Gothel locks Rapunzel in a tower with no stairs or doors |
| Dame Gothel's visits | She visits Rapunzel by climbing up her hair |
| The prince | He discovers Rapunzel's tower and visits her to listen to her singing |
| Escape plan | Rapunzel and the prince devise a plan to escape, but Rapunzel tells Dame Gothel about it |
| Betrayal | Dame Gothel cuts off Rapunzel's hair and banishes her to the wilderness |
| The prince's fate | The prince jumps out of the tower and lands in a patch of thorns |
| Rapunzel's life | Rapunzel lives in misery with her twins |
| Reunion | The prince finds Rapunzel and regains his sight with her tears |
| Rapunzel's hobby | It is not mentioned that Rapunzel paints in the Grimm version |
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What You'll Learn
Rapunzel is not a painter in the original Grimm fairy tale
The classic tale of Rapunzel, a girl with long, golden hair trapped in a tower, has been adapted and republished several times since its first appearance in the 17th century. The original German fairy tale, written by the Brothers Grimm in 1812, has been translated and republished multiple times, with the final edition appearing in 1857.
In the original Grimm tale, Rapunzel is the daughter of a couple who longs to eat rampion, a type of herb, that grows in an evil witch's garden. Her husband steals it for her, but the second time he is caught by the witch, Dame Gothel. She agrees to let him go on the condition that they give her their firstborn child. When the woman gives birth to a baby girl, Dame Gothel appears and takes her away, locking her in a tower with no stairs or doors. She visits Rapunzel by climbing up her hair and eventually, a prince discovers the tower and visits to listen to Rapunzel singing. They fall in love and devise a plan to escape, but when Rapunzel tells Dame Gothel, she cuts off her hair and banishes her to the wilderness.
Nowhere in the original Grimm tale is Rapunzel described as a painter. However, in later adaptations, such as the 2010 film Tangled, Rapunzel has been depicted with a hobby of painting. In Tangled, she paints a detailed star chart in her tower, showing the phases of the moon, the movement of the sun, and various constellations. This addition of a hobby is likely an attempt by filmmakers to make the character more interesting and relatable, as well as to compensate for the removal of violent elements from the original story.
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Rapunzel sings and brushes her hair in the Grimm version
The Grimm Brothers' version of Rapunzel, published in 1812, is notably darker than the Disney adaptation. In the original tale, Rapunzel is taken from her parents as a baby by Mother Gothel, who locks her in a tower with no stairs or doors. Mother Gothel tells Rapunzel that the outside world is unsafe and that she must stay in the tower.
Rapunzel's hair is described as extraordinarily long, golden, and shining. When she hears the voice of the witch, she would unfasten the upper window, unbind her plaits, and let her hair down for the witch to climb up. One day, a prince rides through the forest and hears Rapunzel singing from the tower. Unable to enter, he spies on the witch and learns how to gain access. When the witch leaves, the prince bids Rapunzel to let her hair down. Thinking it is the witch, Rapunzel obeys, and the prince climbs up. The prince tells Rapunzel that her singing has entered his heart, and they fall in love and secretly marry.
Rapunzel and the prince devise a plan to escape together, but Rapunzel innocently reveals their plan to the witch, not realising the consequences. The witch cuts off Rapunzel's hair and banishes her to the wilderness, where she gives birth to twins. The prince, upon discovering the deception, throws himself from the tower, landing in a patch of thorns. Although he survives, he is blinded.
For years, the prince wanders blindly through the wilderness until he hears Rapunzel singing once more and they are reunited. Rapunzel weeps, and her tears restore the prince's sight. They then return to his kingdom, where they live happily ever after.
While the Grimm version does not explicitly mention Rapunzel brushing her hair, it is clear that she takes great care of it, letting it down for the witch to climb and using it to help the prince escape. The act of brushing one's hair can be seen as a symbol of self-care and vanity, which may not align with Rapunzel's character in the Grimm tale, who is described as lonely and naive.
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Adaptations give Rapunzel hobbies to compensate for violence
The original tale of Rapunzel, written by the Brothers Grimm in 1812, is much darker than the popular Disney adaptation, Tangled. In the original, Rapunzel is locked in a tower by an evil witch, Dame Gothel, who visits her by climbing up her hair. When a prince discovers Rapunzel, they fall in love and plan to escape together, but Rapunzel accidentally reveals their plan to Dame Gothel, who cuts off her hair and banishes her to the desert. The prince, upon discovering the truth, jumps out of the tower window and is blinded by the thorns below.
While the original tale of Rapunzel is marked by violence and tragedy, later adaptations have softened the story and given Rapunzel new hobbies and skills to compensate. In Disney's Tangled, Rapunzel is portrayed as highly adaptable, artistic, and strategic. She is able to quickly adjust to the outside world and has a talent for painting beautiful portraits and landscapes. These adaptations emphasise Rapunzel's resourcefulness and creativity, presenting a more empowered version of the character.
Rapunzel's character has also been adapted for the stage and screen, with varying interpretations of her hobbies and interests. In the 1983 live-action television adaptation, Faerie Tale Theatre, Rapunzel's tower becomes a central setting, with her hair acting as a means of escape for the prince. In the 1990 animated film Rapunzel, produced by Hanna-Barbera and Hallmark Cards, the story is narrated by Olivia Newton-John, adding a musical element to the tale.
Other adaptations have continued to explore different aspects of Rapunzel's character and interests. In Barbie as Rapunzel (2002), she uses a magic paintbrush to escape captivity, showcasing her artistic abilities. In the young adult science fiction series The Lunar Chronicles, Rapunzel is reimagined as a prisoner on a satellite who falls in love with her hero, "Captain Thorne". This adaptation, titled Cress, adds a futuristic and technological element to the classic tale.
Through these various adaptations, Rapunzel's character has been transformed and expanded beyond the violence and tragedy of the original Grimm version. By emphasising her hobbies, skills, and resourcefulness, these interpretations offer a more positive and empowering portrayal of Rapunzel, appealing to new generations of audiences.
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Rapunzel paints a star chart in the 2010 film Tangled
In the 2010 film Tangled, Rapunzel paints a detailed star chart while in her tower. The chart includes the phases of the moon, the movement of the sun, and various constellations. To create this chart, Rapunzel studied the night sky and how the sun cast shadows. This scene in the film showcases Rapunzel's understanding of the heliocentric solar system and her boredom within the tower.
The film Tangled is loosely based on the German fairy tale "Rapunzel," published by the Brothers Grimm. The Grimm version of Rapunzel does not explicitly mention the character painting, but it does involve her being locked in a tower by an evil witch or sorceress. In contrast, the film Tangled features Rapunzel as a princess with magical long blonde hair who yearns to leave her secluded tower. She forms an alliance with an intruder, Flynn Rider, who helps her explore the world beyond the tower.
The artistic style of the film blends computer-generated imagery (CGI) with traditional animation, creating the impression of a painting. The visual style draws inspiration from the Rococo era, characterized by soft pastel colors and pastoral scenes. The film's attention to detail, animation, writing, characters, and musical score have been praised by critics.
Rapunzel's star chart serves as a testament to her curiosity and knowledge, adding depth to her character. It also provides a glimpse into her life within the tower, where she finds creative ways to occupy her time. This small detail in the film showcases the extra effort put in by the animators to enrich the viewing experience.
Overall, the inclusion of Rapunzel painting a star chart in the film Tangled enhances the story and provides a fascinating insight into the character's interests and experiences while confined to her tower.
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In the original tale, Rapunzel is stolen from her parents
The first written version of the story dates back to 1634 in Italy. Giambattista Basile wrote the first version in which Rapunzel was actually named Pascadozzia, and was sold to ogres by her mother after her mother stole parsley. When Pascadozzia was seven, the ogres locked her in a tower. She falls in love with a prince and tries to escape, but the ogres come after them. Pascadozzia saves them by using magical acorns to get animals to kill the ogres.
The story then travelled to France, where a fairy locks a girl in a tower to protect her. The fairy is friendly, but the girl angers the fairy by falling in love. Luckily, this version has a happy ending. The tale then spread to Germany, where small details of the story were changed. The old lady is still a friendly fairy in this version. Finally, the Grimm Brothers write their version in 1812, with a few changes made and republished in 1857.
In the Grimm Brothers' version, Rapunzel is reunited with her parents and falls in love with a prince. They devise a plan to escape together, but Rapunzel tells Dame Gothel about it, and chaos ensues. Gothel cuts off her hair and banishes Rapunzel to live in the desert. When the prince comes to visit, Gothel pretends to be Rapunzel and surprises the prince. The prince jumps out of the window and survives, but is blinded by the thorns he lands in. The prince roams blindly around the forest, eventually finding Rapunzel and the twins she had during her exile. Rapunzel weeps when she sees the prince, and her tears give him back his sight.
While Rapunzel is depicted as a painter in some modern adaptations, such as Tangled (2010), there is no mention of her painting in the original Grimm version of the tale.
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Frequently asked questions
No, Rapunzel does not paint in the Grim version of the story.
In the Grim version of the story, Rapunzel is locked in a tower with no stairs or doors to escape from. She spends her days singing.
In the Grim version, Rapunzel is reunited with her true love, and her tears heal his blindness. They live happily ever after in his kingdom.
In the Disney version, Rapunzel is a princess with magical hair that glows and heals injuries. She is also an artist, painting a detailed star chart in her tower.
