Rapunzel
Rapunzel is another example of a classical fairytale that fell victim to Disneyfication. Like pretty much all other Disney tales, the usual singing, talking animals, and evil mother figure was added to the story, but there was a few key ways that this story was different from Disney's usual formula. Unlike most Disney adaptations, including Cinderella and the Little Mermaid, Rapunzel didn't even get to keep her name when her story hit the big screen in 2010. Disney changed the name of her tale to Tangled, the official reason being cited as being a ploy draw in a male as well as female audience according to the Las Angeles Times. The name is not the only thing that was changed in this story, like all others before her, Rapunzel under went a total Disney makeover. Along with the name, and Rapunzel, the prince did some changing of his own. This is one of the first Disney films that the male love interest is not a prince, but a criminal. Flynn Rider is characterized as, "the kingdom's most wanted - and most charming - bandit," by Disney. Below, the Grimm's version of the tale is pitted against the Disney adaptation to see what other details have changed. Some details include:
- Rapunzel's parents were made into royalty for the Disney adaptation. In the Grimm's version, Rapunzel's parents are poor, normal country folk. Rapunzel's mother is not sick in the classic version, but wanted some rampion from an old enchantress's garden next door. Another difference is that in the end of Tangled, Rapunzel and her family are reunited. This is not the case in the original tale, Rapunzel is whisked away to a far away land with her prince.
- The enchantress does not "steal" Rapunzel away from the parents as Gothel does in Tangled. Instead, she makes a deal with the couple to inherit their first born child in exchange for rampion form her garden. The father, trying to save his wife, agrees to the deal and readily takes the rampion.
- In the original version, there is no magical flower created with the power from a drop of sun. Rapunzel's hair is not magical, and has no healing properties. This is something that was added by Disney for Tangled.
- Rapunzel does not want to leave the tower to be with her one true love, she wants to leave the tower to see lanterns that are released every year on her birthday. In the Grimm's version, Rapunzel doesn't leave the tower until the enchantress casts her out when she learns of Rapunzel's deceit.
- The enchantress cuts off Rapunzel's hair in the original version of the tale. Unlike in Tangled, Rapunzel's hair is of no importance to the enchantress other than a useful way to get into the tower. She cuts it off in order to trick the prince. When the Prince learns that the enchantress got rid of Rapunzel, he falls out of the window and barely escapes with his life.
- Although Flynn (briefly) dies at the end of Tangled, in the original tale the prince escapes his encounter with Mother Gothel with his life, but thorns that stick his eyes on the way out render him blinded.
- Rapunzel is pregnant and has twins in the original version of the tale. She is cast out by the enchantress and is stuck living in a desert, destitute, until some years later her prince (accidentally) stumbles upon her.
- While Rapunzel's tears play a big role in both versions, the use of the magic is drastically different. In Tangled, Rapunzel's tears are used to bring Flynn Rider back to life after Gothel kills him. In the Grimm's version, the tears are used to restore the Prince's vision after the thorns render him blind.
- In the end of Tangled, after the hair is cut off, Gothel rapidly ages and ends up falling out the window to her death. This is not the case in the original tale, the enchantress does not die, it is Rapunzel and the prince who pay the price for their love.
Click the button above to open a new window containing text of the original Grimm's version.
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