Less Than Pleasant Origins of Classic Disney Movies and Tales

Disney movies are famous for their happy endings. Many people are unfamiliar with the origins of some of these happily ever after Disney movies and some similar tales. Many Disney movies and stories of a similar style have are based on other stories, and some of these stories have an ending that would shock a Disney fan. If you don't want your image of the perfect Disney stories shattered, stop reading now, but if you are curious, keep reading.

Cinderella

In the Disney version, Cinderella eventually gets to marry the prince despite her evil step-sisters and step-mother. Everyone, except for the step family, gets to live happily ever after. In the original tale of Cinderella, she and the prince do get married and live happily ever after, but the two step-sisters do not have as much luck. In an attempt to fool the prince, they actually cut off pieces of the foot to fit the glass slipper. The prince is notified of this by two pigeons, who peck out the eyes of the two-step sisters. While Cinderella lives a happy life, they are left to live on the street in poverty as blind beggars.

Goldilocks and the Three Bears

There are many different variations of Goldilocks and the Three Bears even today. The one thing that these variations have in common is the basic plot and a happy ending. In the original tale, Goldilocks sneaks into the bears' house, eats, their porridge, and falls asleep, but when she is found by the bears, she doesn't have as much luck. When the bears find her, they shred her to pieces and eat her.

Sleeping Beauty

Sleeping Beauty, along with Cinderella, is a big favorite among little girls. In this Disney movie, the princess falls asleep for a hundred years because of a curse. She is awakened by the kiss of a prince, who she marries. They go on to live happily ever after. The original version of this tale is not one you would tell to your children. In the original version, the princess falls asleep, as with the movie. While she is sleeping, she is raped by her father, the King, and becomes pregnant with twins. She gives birth to the twins (still sleeping) and awakens when one of the babies removes something from her finger that was keeping her from awaking.

The Little Mermaid

In the Disney version, the Little Mermaid is turned into a human so that she can marry the prince and they can live happily ever after. In the original version of the Little Mermaid, she does not get to marry the prince. The prince actually marries another princess, and the Little Mermaid witnesses the wedding and breaks down. Someone offers her a knife so that she can murder the prince, but she decides against it. Rather, she jumps back into the sea and turns into foam and dies.

Little Red Riding Hood

In the version that is most commonly told today, Little Red Riding Hood comes very close to being killed by the big bad wolf, but is rescued by the woodsman. The original version is actually very similar, except in the ending. In an attempt to teach children a lesson, the story actually ends in Little Red Riding Hood being eaten by the wolf.

Some of the most beloved and treasured children's tales got their start from very dark places. Obviously, these are not suitable tales for children, which is why they were altered to be more kid-friendly.

ref-wikipedia.org