The Story of Little Red Riding Hood

We all know the tale of the little girl in the red riding hood, who sets off alone through the forest to visit her grandmother. Like most fairy tales, the story is often told with a much lighter tone, but in truth, it is a darker narrative that I’m about to share with you.

Our version of the story begins in Germany, where a 12-year-old girl, innocent and friendly, lived in a small village far from the city. This girl, known as Red Riding Hood, was raised by her mother after her father passed away.

In those times, most men were hunters who brought food to the table and protected their families from the dangers lurking in the forests. Red Riding Hood’s father met his tragic end at the claws of a bear, a dangerous predator in the woods near the village. Since that day, her mother had strictly forbidden her from venturing into the forest. And Red Riding Hood, being obedient, followed her mother’s rule.

But one day, a newspaper headline sent a chilling message across Germany: a dangerous prisoner had escaped from custody. The escaped convict was known for his horrific crimes, including murder and cannibalism. He was infamous for eating his victims, which earned him the nickname "The Wolf." However, the village where Red Riding Hood lived had not yet received the news, and life continued without fear.

It was a normal morning when Red Riding Hood’s mother decided to go deliver some groceries to her grandmother, who had fallen ill. Red Riding Hood woke up early that day, feeling tired, but she knew her grandmother needed help. Her grandmother, known in the village for her famous jams, would occasionally visit to help Red Riding Hood’s mother. But today, her sickness kept her home, and so Red Riding Hood set out alone.

As she walked, she started to feel tired and considered the long distance to her grandmother’s house at the far end of the forest. She remembered that before her father’s death, they would take shortcuts through the woods.

Though she had been warned to stay out, her innocence and curiosity led her to enter the forest. However, as she ventured deeper, fear set in, and she soon realized she had become lost. Sitting on a rock, she began to cry.

It was then that the Wolf appeared, drawn by the sound of her sobs. The innocent Red Riding Hood, unaware of the danger of speaking to strangers, told him that she was lost and needed to find her grandmother. The Wolf, charmed by her innocence, devised a plan. He directed her along the path toward the only house at the forest’s edge, while secretly knowing a shortcut to get there before her.

Arriving ahead of Red Riding Hood, the Wolf broke into her grandmother’s home, murdered her, and devoured her. Afterward, he fashioned a mask from her face, dressed in her clothes, and lay in her bed, waiting.

When Red Riding Hood arrived at her grandmother’s house, she immediately noticed something was wrong. The "grandmother" in bed looked strange. But trusting her innocence, she believed it was just because her grandmother was sick.

As she got closer, the Wolf, disguised as her grandmother, told her to come closer and remove her clothes to join him in bed. Red Riding Hood, sensing something amiss, became suspicious. She noticed the odd behavior and realized her grandmother’s voice was different, and her appearance was strange. It didn’t make sense, so she tried to make an excuse to leave.

The Wolf, realizing that Red Riding Hood had discovered his deception, chased after her. Despite her attempts to escape, he caught up with her, and in a tragic turn, he killed her with an axe.

After the events unfolded, the story of Little Red Riding Hood was rewritten for children, removing the dark reality and turning it into a fairy tale that has been told and adapted worldwide.

The story of Little Red Riding Hood is rooted in European folklore, particularly in Germany, where different versions have been told throughout history. Some believe that the story was originally meant to warn children about the dangers of talking to strangers or venturing into dangerous places. The first written versions were published in the late 17th century, with Charles Perrault’s rendition in 1697, which focused on the moral of the story—how dangerous the outside world could be and the importance of staying safe.

The tale is also linked to historical periods, such as the medieval era, when people feared predators like wolves, who roamed the forests. The wolf became a symbol of these dangers, and in many cultures, there were stories about these beasts. Some believe the story reflects humankind’s fear of the wild and the natural world that was both mysterious and threatening.

In addition, the story of Red Riding Hood can also be seen as a metaphor for childhood experiences—the transition from innocence to maturity, the fear of the unknown, and the challenge of confronting threats or temptations. The wolf represents the evil or danger lurking in the world, a fear that children are taught to recognize as they grow older.

Over the years, the story has been softened for children in later versions, particularly the famous one by the Brothers Grimm, where Red Riding Hood is saved, and the wolf is vanquished. The darker elements, like the gruesome ending, were often omitted to make the story more suitable for younger audiences.