Day Eighteen

This has got to be the hardest blog yet. Not because we have to take three stories from the culture we chose and write about them, but rather because the French barely have any folk-tales worth noting. This is what I thought, until I realized that the French wrote some of the most memorable and popular fairy tales ever written. So, after hours of battling the internet, regretting the culture I chose, deciding to do this blog, and trying to find three folk-takes, I shall bring you, day eighteen.


Beauty and the Beast (Madame D'Aulnoy) - Everyone should just about know the story of the beauty and the beast. Well, not everyone, but I'll tell you anyways. So, there is a wealthy merchant who is not named in the story. He has three daughters, one of which is named Belle (beauty in French). After losing his wealth, the merchant goes into the city to see if one of his gifts has any monetary value. He asks his three daughters if they want anything upon his return, and Belle asks for a rose. Upon finding none and returning home, he becomes lost in a forest. He stumbles upon a castle owned by the hideous beast which contains a rose garden. He picks one of the roses, and he is confronted by the beast who says that he must stay with him forever unless he brings him his daughter. The merchant agrees, and goes home to give Belle the rose and asks her to go to the castle, which she does. She goes to the castle with the beast, and the two become best friends. Belle lives in a life of luxury, but becomes home sick. She asks to go home, which the beast allows her to do, but only for exactly one week. She returns home, where her sisters are jealous of her luxury and ask her to stay for one more day. She breaks her promise to the beast, and agrees to stay. Belle uses a magical mirror that the beast gives her to see what is going on at the castle, and the beast is half dead in the bed of flowers. She goes to him quickly, and confesses her love for him and one of her tears falls on him, turning him into a handsome prince. The two live happily ever after. Sorry for the long summary, but this is the best I could do to summarize it. 

Isn't this guy a cutie? =D

This tale does not focus on anything really. Nor does it have any purpose besides the moral it teaches. It teaches that beauty is skin deep. It teaches this, seeing as this beautiful girl was in love with a hideous beast. 


Sleeping Beauty (Charles Perrault) - Another popular folk tale. Don't worry my little friends, this summary is quite simple. A princess receives gifts from good fairies at her christening. However, a wicked fairy gives her an enchantment of death if she were to prick her finger on a spindle. A good fairy who cannot completely reverses the spell, rather makes the princess sleep until she is kissed by her true love. A prince who heard of the sleeping princess travels into the forest and kisses her, and the two live happily ever after.


This story has no moral, no focus, nor a real reason to it. But you have to admit, it's a good read, eh?


Puss in Boots (Charles Perrault) - Another popular folk tale. This summary is a bit long, but it's worth reading. The youngest son of a miller receives a mysterious cat for his inheritance. This cat wants to make his master's fortune, and asks for a pair of boots. One day, the cat, who knows that the king and his daughter are traveling by the river, asks his master to bathe in the river (after removing his clothes, of course). The cat then steals his clothes and asks the king for help, and the king dresses the master in fine clothes and lets him sit by his daughter, who falls in love with him. The cat then stumbles upon a castle own by a monster who can turn himself into many creatures, and the cat makes him turn into a mouse so that he can eat him. The cat then tells the king that this castle belongs to his master, which impresses the king, and the master and the king's daughter are married. The cat lives a happy life, chasing the many mouse that live in the castle.


Not sure what any morals, purposes, etc. are for this story, either. If anyone has any ideas, please tell me.


Fin.


All in all, these stories have little to do with French culture. However, I'll think of something that they might have to do with the French (even if it doesn't have anything to do with the French...)...I know! French are known for their romance, and the three stories deal with romance! Aside from this, the stories have nothing to do with France at all (I bet some of you didn't even know such popular stories came from France...)


Have a nice day =D