Question

PLEASE ANSWER BEFORE 11:59

3. In the first version, "Little Red Cap" by Charles Perrault, he spells out what the moral is at the end of the story; his version is the only one to do this. He wrote, "Moral: Children, especially attractive, well-bred young ladies, should never talk to strangers, for if they should do so, they may well provide dinner for a wolf. I say "wolf," but there are various kinds of wolves. There are also those who are charming, quiet, polite, unassuming, complacent, and sweet, who pursue young women at home and in the streets. And unfortunately, it is these gentle wolves who are the most dangerous ones of all." Most adults are surprised and rather appalled by the sexual connotation implied by this moral. What does this say about the responsibility females carry in society? What does this say about the behavior and responsibility of men?​

Answer 1

The moral of "Little Red Cap" places the responsibility of avoiding harm on young women, which reflects the unequal burden of responsibility they often carry in society. The story suggests that men are the primary agents of harm, even those who appear harmless and non-threatening. This highlights the need to hold men accountable for their actions and educate them on the importance of respecting boundaries and obtaining consent.

Answer 2

The explicit sexual connotation in the original version of "Little Red Riding Hood" by Charles Perrault highlights the double standard and unfair expectations placed on females in society. The moral of the story places the responsibility of avoiding dangerous situations solely on women, implying that they must always be on guard and cautious of the intentions of men. This perpetuates the idea that women should be blamed for any misfortune that may befall them, rather than placing the responsibility on the perpetrator.

Furthermore, the moral of the story implies that men have the potential to be dangerous and predatory, particularly those who are "charming, quiet, polite, unassuming, complacent, and sweet." This suggests that men have a responsibility to control their behavior and not to take advantage of women, regardless of the circumstances or the women's actions. However, the fact that Perrault emphasizes the danger of these "gentle wolves" indicates that he also recognizes the prevalence of such behavior and the difficulty of identifying potential predators.

Overall, the original version of "Little Red Riding Hood" highlights the social and gender dynamics of the time it was written in, which often placed women in vulnerable positions and held them to a higher standard of conduct and responsibility than men. The story also suggests that men have a responsibility to respect women and not take advantage of them, even if they appear to be harmless or innocent.