--Gregoriancant's Connective Threads Series--:"Rapunzel" (Part 3)--The Historical Significance of the Brothers Grimm's "Rapunzel" and Its Connection to the Legend of St. Barbara

Most adults find out (when doing their children literary re-investigations) that the legendary writers of the Brothers Grimm lived up to their last name sometimes. As children, we usually remember their tales through watered-down editions or just didn't register some of the darker elements to their stories. A lot of the influences behind their stories, too, come from darker themes. As charming as we remember "Rapunzel" to be when kids--we probably never thought about the true whys behind Rapunzel being locked up in that tower with her long locks. We also never stopped to think about what might have gone on inside the tower where Rapunzel had to live by force of Dame Gothel and prior to meeting the prince. All we know beforehand is that she was singing from the tower when the prince arrives and seemingly (and maybe naively) accepting or content with her surroundings. What likely went on inside the tower was similar to what happened to a recognized Saint named Barbara who was said to live in Asia Minor of the third century. Similarly, she was locked away in a tower by her pagan father because she had converted to Christianity...as her father spurned her for her actions and subsequently tortured her nearly to death.

Yes, "Rapunzel" may now be a modern lesson in how to persevere and keep faith in a time when Christians are being persecuted in many parts of the world. And outside that box--it's a powerful statement for surviving any kind of repression that unfortunately seems to be increasing in a time when it should be the other way around. All of that was wrapped around the worship of long, beautiful hair and a simple fairy tale love story.