' "Grandmother, what big arms you have!"
"All the better to hold you with, my dear."
"Grandmother, what big legs you have!"
"All the better to run with, my dear."
Grandmother, what big ears you have!"
"All the better to hear with, my dear."
"Grandmother, what big eyes you have!"
"All the better to see with, my dear."
Grandmother, what big teeth you have!"
"All the better to eat you up!"
At that, the wicked wolf threw himself upon Little Red Riding Hood and gobbled her up, too.
Moral
Children, especially pretty, nicely brought-up young ladies, ought never to talk to strangers; if they are foolish enough to do so, they should not be surprised if some greedy wolf consumes them, elegant red riding hoods and all.
Now, there are real wolves, with hairy pelts and enormous teeth; but also wolves who seem perfectly charming, sweet-natured and obliging, who pursue young girls in the street and pay them the most flattering attentions.
Unfortunately, these smooth-tongued, smooth-pelted wolves are the most dangerous of all.'
Blubeard and other stories
(Little Red Riding Hood)
(Page 13-14)
God knows who reads this, but if you do and have for a decent amount of time you'll probably have picked up on my undying, unadulterated and unashamed love for Angela Carter.
(If not . . . what the fuck?)
She's my lady, what can i say.
It actually pains me that she's shuffled off this wretched planet and never another word of hers will be committed to print.
She was only 51.
How in the world is that fair?
The only comfort that can be taken is that she's been immortalised in her work.
Of which i'm yet to read all of.
Her re-workings of Charles Perrault's classic fairy tales are yet another notch in the literary bedpost i'm currently whittling down to cinder - pun intended.
And it was a notch well spent.
Normally, i find re-imaginings of classic short stories a little lacklustre and tend to forget them almost as soon as the last word has permeated my brainpan.
This has even been the case with Carter and some of her other reinterpreted tales.
But not Bluebeard and his compatriots.
Carter has enough wit - and them some - to elevate simple fables to higher ground.
The most favourable aspect of this elevation, i find, is the dignity and strength she restores to the women of these stories.
So often the 'fairer' sex is just a pretty face to be chased, rescued and married.
...
Not exactly representative of women as a whole, is it?
Carter took note of this and in true form put women back in their rightful place as intelligent, strong and resourceful badasses who can be chased, rescued and married if they want to be.
And this is why i love/adore/worship her.
And demand everyone else do so also.
I've run out of shelf space.
But i'll never stop buying books.
Some of the family now reside on my desk.
...
I'm slowly being cocooned by books and it's really bloody comforting.
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