Goldilocks and the Three Bears Critical Interpretations

Historical: Uncovering the Past  More a cautionary tale for children than a fairy tale  Originally entitled “The Three Bears”  Protagonist was an old crone, then a girl named “Silver Hair” then “Silver-Locks” then “Golden Hair” then “Goldilocks”  More a cautionary tale for children than a fairy tale  Originally entitled “The Three Bears”  Protagonist was an old crone, then a girl named “Silver Hair” then “Silver-Locks” then “Golden Hair” then “Goldilocks”

Formalist: Critical Themes  Struggle with one’s place  Search for identity  Sibling rivalry  Struggle with one’s place  Search for identity  Sibling rivalry

Family Dynamics  Bears represent a nuclear family  Their pleasant cottage is invaded by an unwelcome outsider  Bears represent a nuclear family  Their pleasant cottage is invaded by an unwelcome outsider

Oedipal Complex  G. explores gender and family roles: father, mother, child  This is also a search for self and her position within the family  G. is ultimately expelled for her experimentation  G. explores gender and family roles: father, mother, child  This is also a search for self and her position within the family  G. is ultimately expelled for her experimentation

Psychoanalytic: Oedipal Complex  G. is curious about what adults do “behind closed doors”  G. is tempted by the temporary absence of “parents”  G. is curious about what adults do “behind closed doors”  G. is tempted by the temporary absence of “parents”

Oedipal Complex – Papa Bear  Father role does not fit G.  Intimacy with the father is “too hot!”  Father role does not fit G.  Intimacy with the father is “too hot!”

Oedipal Complex – Mama Bear  Mother’s bed is “too soft” = fear of engulfment and suffocation (return to the womb)  Mother’s milk (porridge) is “too cold” and no longer satisfies  Mother’s bed is “too soft” = fear of engulfment and suffocation (return to the womb)  Mother’s milk (porridge) is “too cold” and no longer satisfies

Sibling Rivalry – Baby Bear’s POV  G. is an intruder from nowhere  G. usurps his place in the family = mother’s milk, place at the table, bed(room)  G. is an intruder from nowhere  G. usurps his place in the family = mother’s milk, place at the table, bed(room)

Sibling Rivalry – Baby Bear’s POV  BB.’s shrill voice awakens the sleeping G.  BB. shrieks to drive off the newcomer  G. goes back from whence she came  The insider wins  BB.’s shrill voice awakens the sleeping G.  BB. shrieks to drive off the newcomer  G. goes back from whence she came  The insider wins

Archetypal: Identity – the Adolescent  G. is the adolescent at once a child yet exploring autonomy  The tale leaves the reader dissatisfied – it offers no place for G.  G. is the adolescent at once a child yet exploring autonomy  The tale leaves the reader dissatisfied – it offers no place for G.

Identity  Being lost in the forest = quest to find oneself  G. is an outside intruder who never becomes an insider  Being lost in the forest = quest to find oneself  G. is an outside intruder who never becomes an insider

Identity  Fear of clinging to the mother = desire for individuation  Only the child position is “just right”  However, she has outgrown the child’s chair  G. is too old to regress into an infant  Fear of clinging to the mother = desire for individuation  Only the child position is “just right”  However, she has outgrown the child’s chair  G. is too old to regress into an infant

Identity – the Adolescent  Defeated, G. runs away (back into the forest?)  Running away from a problem = unconscious denial or repression  Defeated, G. runs away (back into the forest?)  Running away from a problem = unconscious denial or repression

Identity – the Adolescent  G. tries to navigate her basic human position  This is a tremendous psychological battle that every human must undergo  G. tries to navigate her basic human position  This is a tremendous psychological battle that every human must undergo

Magic Threes -- Home Invasion  “looked in at the window”  “peeped in at the keyhole”  “lifted the latch”  “looked in at the window”  “peeped in at the keyhole”  “lifted the latch”

Magic Threes – Family Unit  Papa Bear = male (anima)  Mama Bear = female (animus)  Baby Bear (no gender assigned)  Papa Bear = male (anima)  Mama Bear = female (animus)  Baby Bear (no gender assigned)

Magic Threes -- Homewrecker  3 Dishes = nourishment  3 Chairs = support  3 Beds = intimacy  3 Dishes = nourishment  3 Chairs = support  3 Beds = intimacy

Feminist: A Woman’s Place  G. finds herself in a domestic setting:  Kitchen = domesticity  Living Room = family center  Bedroom = intimacy  G. finds herself in a domestic setting:  Kitchen = domesticity  Living Room = family center  Bedroom = intimacy

A Woman’s Place  G.’s looks are foremost: “Goldilocks” = blond curls  Contrasts with her brazen behavior  Judged more harshly than a naturally exuberant and adventurous boy  G.’s looks are foremost: “Goldilocks” = blond curls  Contrasts with her brazen behavior  Judged more harshly than a naturally exuberant and adventurous boy

A Woman’s Place  G. “whines”  G. is indecisive  G. is fickle  G. is hard to please  G. “whines”  G. is indecisive  G. is fickle  G. is hard to please

A Woman’s Place  G. is a threat to home/marital harmony  G. has been in Papa Bear’s bed! = home-wrecker  G. is a threat to home/marital harmony  G. has been in Papa Bear’s bed! = home-wrecker

A Bear’s Place  Mama bear follows Papa Bear’s lead  Baby bear patterns himself after his parents  Sees mother subordinate to father  Sees girl as a negative figure  Mama bear follows Papa Bear’s lead  Baby bear patterns himself after his parents  Sees mother subordinate to father  Sees girl as a negative figure

A Bear’s Place  What gender have you always assumed Baby Bear is?