In furtherance of the idea presented in class about images of Little Red Riding Hood and how she is depicted, my last post contained several images of Little Red and I made the observation that it is her red cape and hood that make her instantly identifiable as Little Red. This started me thinking about other fictional characters and who else among them possesses such an iconic, trademark piece of clothing that would be instantly associated with that character.
I was surprised that this was harder than I initially expected. In fact, the best I could do was Cinderella and her glass slipper, however, it is not uncommon for Cinderella to be depicted in her housework rags, or in her ball gown but without her feet showing so it is not quite the same effect as we have with Little Red and her hooded cape.
I was able to come up with a list of items that we might instantly associate with a particular fairy tale character but, unless you were only using the Disney images for associations, no other definitive article of clothing for another character.
Snow White, Cinderella, Rapunzel and Sleeping Beauty could all be interchangeable princesses and fairy tale heroines if they were lined up side by side in ball gowns. However, add an apple and maybe a forest creature or two and you would immediately know it must be Snow White. The same goes for Cinderella and her already mentioned glass slipper, as well as her pumpkin coach. Rapunzel could be any pretty, young girl with a very long braid but if she is near or in a tower with no visible door, then she is recognized as Rapunzel. Sleeping Beauty needs the spinning wheel or to be seen lying atop her bed before she is easily identified as Sleeping Beauty.
These are all popular fairy tale characters, and yet, it is only Little Red that has that one, steady, consistent article of clothing that identifies her as the young girl who encounters a wolf while walking through the woods.
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