Speaking of the Fritzl case . . .

[pegkerr]

I can't help but think that the New York Review of Books may be slightly regretting the rather unfortunate accident of timing that has them releasing an examination of the Rapunzel myth, specifically, the sexual meaning of the imprisoned girl, locked away by a parent, against breaking news of the Fritzl incest scandal.

I'm also thinking of Robin McKinley's Deerskin.

Comments

[mayakda.livejournal.com]

The Fritzl case has my mind shying away in horror.
Rapunzel at least had a window.

I don't think, that is, I've never thought of the Rapunzel story as being about incest. The child given by the poor peasants to live in the tower seems more like a feudal thing. And when Rapunzel hair is cut off, coinciding with exile, it reminds me of Asian traditions of not being able to return home if your hair is cut.

[pegkerr.livejournal.com]

Well, not incest, exactly, but the witch assumes the mother's role, and she wants to possess the child entirely for herself rather than to allow her to move into the world. And in the original tale there's more than a whiff of a man penetrating the tower, so to speak, to take sexual advantage of an innocent child/woman. In the original tale the prince has sex with her, and the question that sets off the witch's rage isn't "why does it take you so much longer than the prince to climb up?" but "why is my waist growing so much bigger?"

[mayakda.livejournal.com]

Reminds me of my pet peeve about western fairy-tales -- always the (step)mom getting the bad press. :)

[teacherla.livejournal.com]

Yes, and then he gets his eyes scratched out = castration, right?

[pegkerr.livejournal.com]

We wish. From what I read today, the penalty he was facing for what he had done was only fifteen years! Unless they add murder for the baby that died.

I'm sure they will. I'm sure he's the most hated man in Austria today and will be put away for a very long time. I hope it's at least as long as that poor daughter suffered.

[mayakda.livejournal.com]

I've read that Austria is one of the countries where they can keep felons in jail past their sentence indefinitely if they are deemed a danger to the public.

You know what really disturbs me is wondering if Fritzl came up with this idea all on his own or if there is a whole bunch of this atrocity going on. OMG.

[pegkerr.livejournal.com]

No, I'm not familiar with it. Another one to add to the list. . .

[huladavid.livejournal.com]

Sorry, the deleted post was me screwing up my syntax

...or something.

[huladavid.livejournal.com]

When I read your subject line I first thought to myself, "Oh geez, who's J.K. Rowling suing now?

I was intrigued by your mention of Deerskin. Have you ever seen Donkey Skin? It's Catherine Deneuve second movie and directed by Jacques Demy (who directed Deneuve's first movie, The Umbrellas of Cherbourg), and it's a wonderful movie. There's a copy at the Central Library, and I really hope you get a chance to see it. I should warn you, it's a bit anachronistic.

[kayselkiemoon.livejournal.com]

the Fritzl incest scandal is so scary. also deeply disturbing is the situation with the FLDS children, the young adult girls especially.

that was a neat article on Rapunzel - thanks for the mention! I had such fun I went over and read SurLaLune's Rapunzel pages.

I can see how the imprisonment of Rapunzel would bring the current scandal to mind. fortunately for my peace of mind, the witch's possessive love doesn't seem to have a sexual nature, but she refuses to share Rapunzel (& both Rapunzel's love for her, and the opportunity to love Rapunzel) with anyone else. from some of the surlalune notes, it seems the witch finds the prospect of Rapunzel being desired by men the most alarming. the annotated story says that it is when Rapunzel turns twelve (and starts menstruation, moves away from childhood) that the witch sticks her in the tower. "the witch locks Rapunzel up in the tower in an attempt to stifle her increasing maturity and protect her from sexual predators." and as soon as the witch finds that Rapunzel has had congress (in whatever meaning) with a man, she turns on her. hrm.

I think the prince's between-the-lines sexual relationship is a bit squicky, but not nearly as squicky as early versions of Sleeping Beauty. "In the earliest variations, the king or prince impregnates Beauty in her sleep and then leaves. She wakes up when she gives birth to her twin children and one suckles her finger, removing the flax." *shudder* fun times, fairy tales. ;)

[pegkerr.livejournal.com]

The witch's possessive love doesn't seem to have a sexual nature, but she refuses to share Rapunzel (& both Rapunzel's love for her, and the opportunity to love Rapunzel) with anyone else. from some of the surlalune notes, it seems the witch finds the prospect of Rapunzel being desired by men the most alarming.

Well, in a sick way that sort of is like the Fritzl case. He started molesting her at age 11, and there is speculation he locked her away because he was troubled by the idea of her maturing and getting away from him--and specifically, he was alarmed by the idea that she might be desired/possessed by other men. Except in this case he locked her away because he wanted her for himself, and himself alone (sexually); he blended the role of (unspeakable overprotective) father and (unspeakably debauched) incest rapist in his role with her.

Unspeakably sick.

[faeriemusicsmom.livejournal.com]

Do you know Napoli's Zel? It brings out the disturbing parts more than most retellings. (I'm kind of disturbed at the picture of cheerful, happy Rapunzel on the paperback over at Amazon.)

[pegkerr.livejournal.com]

No, I haven't read Zel. (Yet another) one to add to the list.

[kayselkiemoon.livejournal.com]

yes, I was pleased with Napoli's take on the story. :)

[porcinea.livejournal.com]

And not to make the picture worse, but my mind wonders what the heck he was up to with the oldest granddaughter -- you know, the one who's now 19? And is in a coma, having convulsions?

[pegkerr.livejournal.com]

Yeah, that crossed my mind, too.

And . . . the space was so small . . . in front of them all???