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Megan Hensiek
Dr. Jane J. Lee
ENG 308
October 10, 2017
How Children’s Literature Theorizes the Child
The Grimm Brothers’ adaptation of “Little Red Riding-Hood”, lends itself to suggest

how children are expected to perform based on gender roles with the depiction of the huntsman

who rescues the distressed grandmother and Little Red Cap. Meanwhile in Burnett’s A Little

Princess, she argues that a good woman may not only be exemplified by traditional values but

rather through unconventional characteristics; in her portrayal of Sara Crewe, Burnett proposes a

lady should not only be well dressed, motherly, and compassionate but also intelligent and

scholarly. Both fairytales reflect on the impression that children who obtain a certain level of

exposure and education will be advantageous. All while, both texts elude to the fact that children

are often projected into the world based on their gender and hierarchical status.

In Burnett’s A Little Princess, children are theorized as impressionable individuals whom

always thrive to uphold a certain status quo in society. Throughout the novel Burnett, argues the

importance of knowledge and education which can be represented through each character. For

instance, Sara Crewe was not the typical image of beauty with her exotic appearance, but

because she was intelligent and well cultured she was always able to captivate the likening of

others even as a dirty-beggar-girl. For example, because Sara’s father exposed her to different

cultures and languages she was able to use her knowledge of speaking French to teach the

younger pupils. If Sara had not known any French perhaps her life as the girl in the attic would

have been drearier. In addition, Sara is able to identify what a sailor from India was called which

helped to reunite her to her benefactor Mr. Carrisford, “Shall I give the monkey to the Lascar?”
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asked Sara. “How do you know he is a Lascar? Said the Indian gentlemen smiling. “Oh, I know

Lascars, I was born in India.” Sara exclaimed (p. 169). Burnett depicts Sara as a worldly girl

who has been exposed to many things. Not only does her love for books and thirst for knowledge

set her apart from the other pupils, but she is able to use her knowledge to tell stories which

become a survival mechanism when she loses her wealth. Because of this exposure, Sara

upholds a certain status quo that can easily be identified in society and sets her apart from other

characters like Becky the lifeless scullery-maid.

Similarly, in “Little Red Cap”, the Grimm Brothers illustrate a crafty Wolf whom is

intelligent enough to devise a plan to distract Little Red-Cap; “See Little Red- Cap, how pretty

the flowers are about here—why do you not look around”, said the wolf. In this instance, the

wolf could have easily disembodied Little Red-Cap instantaneously, however because he was

intelligent he was able to conclude it would be more beneficial to distract Little Red- Cap and

devour both her and the grandmother at a later time. Both Burnett and the Grimm Brothers see

the value in education and recognize that children will get farther in life with the proper amount

of exposure and drive for knowledge, which are all integral tools for survival.

Through the use of gender roles, both Burnett and the Grimm brothers illustrate how boys

and girls should behave in the world. Burnett uses Sara as a representation of what a proper lady

should embody. Like a princess, a lady should be dressed appropriately, should exhibit

respectable manners, should be motherly in nature, compassionate and must be able to hold in

negative emotions as Sara demonstrates; “It has been hard to be a princess to-day, Melchisedec,”

she said. “It has been harder than usual. It gets harder as the weather grows colder and the streets

get sloppier. When Lavinia laughed at my muddy skirt as I passed her in the hall, I thought of

something to say all in a flash- and I only just stopped myself in time. You can’t sneer back at
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people like that- if you are a princess.” (P.115). Although Sara embodies many traditional traits

as lady of her time should, Burnett also introduces several unconventional attributes that

theorizes the principle that girls of that time should also be educated, independent, and cultured

similar to Sara Crewe.

In contrast to Burnett, The Grimm Brothers demonstrate the stereotypical characteristics

associated with fairytale boys and girls. As revealed by Little Red-Cap, girls can be naïve, and

taken advantage of;

‘“Good day Little Red- Cap,” said the wolf.’

“Thank you kindly, wolf”.

“Wither away so early, Little Red-Cap?”

“To my grandmother’s.”

“Where does your grandmother live, Little Red-Cap?”

“A good quarter of a league farther on in the wood; her house stands under three

large oak trees; the nut trees are just below; surely must know it” replied Little

Red-Cap.’

Ordinarily children are often taught not to talk to strangers, however Little-Red Cap is

inexperienced and does not see the harm in talking to the wolf, nor does she see anything wrong

with giving away her grandmother’s location. In Contrast, to Little Red-Cap the huntsman is

portrayed as the typical strong, intelligent prince charming who rescues the weak women. The

Grimm Brothers portrayal of Little-Red Cap insinuates girls can easily be taken advantage of and
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are perhaps not as clever as their male counterpart. While the narrative illustrating the Huntsman

reveals men should evoke a sense of strength and power.

In A Little Princess, Burnett sets the timeline for the world children live in by

maintaining and establishing hierarchies. Instantly, Burnett paints a picture that those who are of

significant status in the world are more respectable and hold greater value, while those who are

part of the working class are less credible and are treated inhumanely. “Becky is the scullery

maid. Scullery-maids-er-not little girls” (pg. 54). By ignoring the working class, the wealthy are

able to uphold a certain status quo and gain more power. In addition, the poor become a mode to

absolve problems and heartbreak in the world which may make one feel better about their

misfortunes. ‘“If I do not remind myself of the things I have learned, perhaps I may forget them,”

she said to herself “I am almost a scullery-maid, and if I am a scullery-maid who knows nothing,

I shall be like poor Becky”’ (pg. 73). In this instance, even though Sara is a poor, hungry, dirty

beggar girl who sleeps in the same rat-infested attic as Becky, she still finds a way to rank herself

higher than Becky all to uphold the status quo and make herself feel better.

At the same token, The Grimm Brothers establish a hierarchal structure that showcases

the differences in class and the way children are to be projected. For instance, it can be inferred

that Little Red-Cap is wealthy and does not have the same worries or concerns as the hungry

wolf. Not only does Little Red-Cap have a loving family who can provide red velvet for clothing

and can afford such luxuries like cake and wine, but in the end Little Red-Cap survives and lives

happily ever after. Whereas the deprived wolf whom ate Little Red-Cap and grandmother out of

necessity is killed off. Through the use of this hierarchal structure the Grimm Brothers depict a

product of the world where the wealthy survive and the meager dissipate. Both Burnett and the

Grimm Brothers deflect on the idea that the way in which children project themselves in the
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world says a lot about their character and whether or not they will be treated as an equal or be

made to feel like a savage.

Overall, the Grimm Brothers fairytale, “Little Red-Cap”, sets a pace for children and how

they should be perceived by the world. Children must obtain a level of intelligence and wit in

order to successfully get what they want in life similarly to the crafty wolf, all while remaining

polite like Little Red-Cap and strong like the Huntsman who became a hero. Their stereotypical

gender roles reflect a sense of predictability and shape children’s literature in a sense that women

are often naïve and weak, while men are supposed to be strong and intelligent. Not to mention,

the Grimm Brothers elude to the principle that the world is constructed based on a hierarchal

ladder, and children who are wealthy and of good fortune like Little Red-Cap will survive

whereas, those who are greedy and poor similar to the wolf will perish.

Comparatively, Burnett addresses the same principles in her fairytale A Little Princess, in

her portrayal of Sara. Burnett uses Sara as a pillar of strength that embodies what a young lady

should resemble. Not only is Sara Caring, compassionate, nurturing, and respectful, but she is

also educated and intelligent and demonstrates those attributes through storytelling. However,

Sara is a character that is idolized and is not realistic in the sense that not all girls can be

princesses. Similar to the Grimm Brothers, Burnett also constructs a hierarchy that puts all the

responsibility on the working class like Becky and Anne. All things considered, both the Grimm

Brothers and Burnett acknowledges that the way in which children are projected into the world

can be either beneficial or disadvantageous based on their level of exposure, class, and gender.
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