Unveiling the Dark Truths behind Disney Fairytales: From Sinister Origins to Enchanted Cinema

Fairytales have always been an essential part of our childhood, transporting us to magical realms filled with benevolent fairies and talking beasts. But did you know that the enchanting fairytales we adore have much darker, more chilling origins? You won’t believe the secrets hidden behind these beloved tales!

The Gory Fairytale of Cinderella

The Disney version of Cinderella that we grew up with is the tale of a young kind girl whose fate suddenly changes when she is blessed with good fortune. It is brimming with magical elements like fairy godmothers, glass slippers, singing animals, and pumpkins turning into carriages. However, the rendition of Cinderella by the Brothers Grimm, published in their collection of German folktales in 1812 was much more gruesome than this sanitized version.

In the original tale, Cinderella’s iconic shoes and dress aren’t gifts from a fairy godmother but from a white dove perched on a tree that she planted at her mother’s grave. Her father is alive but neglects her. When the prince comes to find Cinderella with the gold shoe she left behind, the scene is quite gory as the stepsisters take extreme measures to fit in the heels: one amputates her toe, and the other severs a part of her heel. Cinderella does get a happy ending in this version too, but the stepsisters are met with a grim fate as the doves pluck their stepsister’s eyes at her wedding.

The Fairytale of Sleeping Beauty

There are numerous versions of the Sleeping Beauty fairytale, each with a unique spin. One of the earliest and most haunting renditions is the Giambattista Basile’s “Sun, Moon, and Talia”. In this adaptation, the sleeping beauty pricks her finger while spinning flax, which causes her to fall into a deep sleep. One day, a king finds her unconscious, impregnates her, and then abandons her. When she awakens, she discovers that she has given birth to two children.

The plot thickens! Not only does the cruelty persist, but when the king’s wife learns about this, she goes so far as to masquerade as the king and craft a letter inviting the children to the kingdom. She intends to cook them and feed them to the king; however, her plan fails as the cook does not comply. In the end, Talia and the king get their happy ending, and the queen is sentenced to be burned.

The Morbid Fairytale of Snow White

The original version of “Snow White” is quite morbid. In this one, the evil queen orders the huntsman to bring Snow White’s lungs and liver as proof of her death, instead of her heart, intending to eat them. The most interesting part is that, unlike the Disney version, snow white does not wake up from the prince’s kiss. Instead, a prince discovers Snow White in a coffin and decides to transport her back to her father’s castle to give her a proper resting place.  During the journey, one of the servants accidentally drops the comatose girl, dislodging the chunk of apple stuck in Snow White’s throat, and miraculously reviving her.

Also, in the original fairytale, the queen makes multiple attempts to kill her. First, she disguises herself as an old peddler and offers Snow White a laced bodice. She fastens the laces so tightly that Snow White faints. Then, she shows up as a comb seller and runs a poisoned comb through Snow White’s hair. Finally, the poisoned apple is her last and successful attempt to harm Snow White.

The fate of the evil queen is quite barbaric. When she attempts to attack Snowhite again at her wedding, the prince punishes her by making her wear red-hot iron shoes and dance until she drops dead.

The Tragic Fairytale of Rapunzel

The beloved tale of the girl with long magical hair who lives in a forbidden tower is even more tragic in the original version. Unlike the Disney movie, Rapunzel does not come from a royal family but from an impoverished one. When her parents were expecting her, they lived next to a sorceress. The mother craved Rapunzel, a kind of vegetable, and refused to eat anything else, so her husband stole the vegetable from the sorceress’s garden. When he was caught, the sorceress offered to spare him in exchange for the promise of their newborn. Desperate, the man accepted her terms. 

When Rapunzel encounters the prince, they fall in love and tie the knot. However, their happiness is short-lived as the sorceress discovers their romance when Rapunzel becomes pregnant. They are subjected to a harrowing fate, with the prince falling from the tower and going blind after landing in a patch of thorns, while Rapunzel is banished to fend for herself. Years later, they reunite in the wilderness, where Rapunzel’s tears miraculously heal the prince’s eyes. 

Isn’t it fascinating that many of our cherished fairytales have dark and mysterious origins? These tales are intricately woven into the rich tapestry of folklore and oral traditions that have been passed down through countless generations. It’s incredible to think that storytelling has been an integral part of human history since the dawn of time and continues to evolve with each passing era. If you’re interested in reading older versions of your favorite fairytales, consider reading Grimms’ Fairy Tales by Jacob Grimm and Wilhelm Grimm.

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