Rapunzel

Zelinsky, P. O. (1997). Rapunzel. New York: Dutton Childrens Books.

As a young girl, one of my favorite "princess" stories was Rapunzel.  I longed for those long, flowing, beautiful locks of blonde hair to cast down and catch my prince charming.  I have heard and seen the story in many different ways, which is why I chose to read Zelinsky's version to see how it differed from the traditional tale.

The story begins long ago, in a beautiful, rural Italian setting.  A man and wife longed for a child, and after many years of hoping, their wish finally came true.  They lived beside an old, lonely sorceress' garden where she grew herbs and plants of all kinds.  The pregnant woman longed for a taste of the luxurious Rapunzel she viewed in the garden.  She craved it so badly that she promised her death if she did not get a taste. The sorceress had the garden guarded on all sides by high walls, but because the husband feared his wife's death, he found a way to retrieve her a taste of the Rapunzel.  He was successful on the first attempt, but when he entered the garden on the second attempt to further satisfy his wife's desire, the lonely sorceress caught him.  It is from this point that the traditional story of Rapunzel unfolds.


 The theme of greed and lust is very evident throughout this rendition of "Rapunzel."  The man and wife lust for a child.  The pregnant wife lusts for a taste of Rapunzel.  The wife demonstrates greed when she sends her husband out for more of the Rapunzel.  The sorceress lusts for companionship when she trades the Rapunzel for a child, and then later shows greed when she locks her in the tower where only she can see her.      Finally, we see that the prince lusts to see Rapunzel after hearing her beautiful voice singing from the top of the tower.  

Zenlinsky's version of Rapunzel had possibly the greatest illustrations of the tale that I have encountered.  The immaculate oil paintings were very in depth and the warm hues were a great addition to the text.

            

           Question before reading:

           What are the outcomes that result from the greed and lust throughout the story?