18.06.2024

By Paula Rübel, Okay Fidan and Nuria Walter

The fairy tale „Little Red Riding Hood“ by Charles Perrault written in 1679 is a very famous piece of literature that has been read by many people and influenced further work. It can be interpreted in many different ways. In the following essay a Marxist approach to the story will be analyzed and explained.

Marxism is a social, economic and political philosophy developed by Karl Marx in the 19th century. The main idea is a classless society where no one gets disadvantaged because of their social background.

Little Red Riding Hood and her mother live in a house in a small village where they are well known and respected. They represent the upper class society. Whereas the wolf, who is wandering around all alone in the woods fighting to survive stands for the lower class.

Little Red Riding Hood’s coat can also be seen as a representer of her social class. It makes her stand out and seem important in comparison to the wolf, whose outer appearance is not even mentioned.

When walking through the woods the little girl is enjoying the walk, taking her time to fully see all he beautiful things that are to be found. This can also be seen as a criticism of society and it’s structures, rules and pressure. While being far away from all that Little Red Riding Hood feels free and can enjoy the moment.

The fact that the family could spare a cake to bring to the sick grandmother and not something less expensive also underlines their wealthiness and trade to care for other members of their social group whereas the wolf obviously has no one to help him when in need.

When the wolf dressed as her grandmother tells Little Red Riding Hood to take off her coat and get into bed with him she is scared but does it anyway which eventually leads her to being eaten by the wolf. This is also a criticism of hierarchical structures and authorities in society where inferior people are supposed to follow without hesitation and questioning the superior.

Her coat being seen as a symbol of her higher social status she literally strips off her protection from society when getting into bed with her „grandmother“ (the wolf)  and the lower class wolf can get to her.

In conclusion you can say that the fairy tale can be interpreted as a representation and criticism of social class problems and issues that can also be found in Marxist philosophy. Considering that Perrault himself belonged to the bourgeoisie, the French upper class society, he presumedly didn’t mean to criticize or challenge the class society system but rather promote it and depict the lower class as bad and evil and the upper class as something valuable that needs to be protected.