Everyone knows the classic fairytales, but many of us only know them from the movies they inspired. Reading them in their original form can sometimes deliver a completely different story, often with much more violent details than you’d think. Here’s a look at 10 not-so-fairy tale origins.
Cinderella
In the film: Poor, abused Cinderella gets everything she ever wanted with the help of magic and cute animals. She marries a charming prince and escapes the servitude of her wicked stepmother and step-sisters.
In the original fairytale: There are many versions of Cinderella. The Brothers Grimm version includes a wishing tree that grows on the grave of Cinderella’s mother. This version also ends with her evil stepsisters getting their eyes plucked out by doves. Clearly not for kids.
Snow White
In the film: A jealous, evil queen tries to kill Snow White, forcing her to take refuge with some dwarves. The queen manages to put her into a coma with a poison apple. Luckily, a handsome prince comes along to wake her up.
In the original fairytale: The Grimm version of Snow White is largely the same, except the queen is forced to dance in hot iron boots until it kills her. So it’s just a tiny bit more severe in the punishment department.
The Little Mermaid
In the film: An adventurous mermaid/hoarder, who longs to live among humans, trades her voice for a pair of legs. Eventually she falls in love and stays a mermaid forever.
In the original fairytale: Ariel’s obsession with humans makes a bit more sense as only they possess souls that can ascend to Heaven after death. Her prince marries another woman, however. She has a chance to get her legs back, but only if she kills the prince. Instead she commits suicide. As a reward, she gets to go to Heaven. And many a child cries themselves to sleep.
Beauty and the Beast
In the film: A spirited, independent young woman finds herself trapped with a hideous beast. They end up falling in love. Thanks to her love, he turns back into a handsome young man.
In the original fairytale: Belle has some pretty mean stepsisters and a cool ring that basically gives her teleportation powers. Aside from these and some other small details, however, the two versions are quite similar.
Hansel and Gretel
In the film: Their profession is one only a marketing exec could love: Witch hunter! Regarding the actual fairytale, however, we learn that their mother was a white witch, making them immune to spells.
In the original fairytale: After being kicked out of their home, Hansel and Gretel find a house made of candy. Inside is a witch, who tries to fatten them up before eating them. They kill her instead. No one gets diabetes.
Jack and the Beanstalk
In the movie: Jack accidentally plants a magic bean, which grows a beanstalk extending upward to where a bunch of giants live. He and some soldiers enter the giant’s realm, have many adventures, and ultimately go to battle against the giants.
In the original fairy tale: Only Jack messes around with the giants, and only two giants at that (a husband and wife). He steals riches from them, and when the male giant tries to go after Jack, he cuts down the beanstalk -- sending the giant plummeting to his death.
Sleeping Beauty
In the movie: Upon the birth of their child, a king and queen throw a celebration – but fail to invite an evil fairy named Maleficent. Angry, Maleficent places a curse on the baby, dooming her to die when she turns 16. A nice fairy amends the curse so she just falls into a deep sleep instead. Once she’s asleep, a prince fights off Maleficent, and awakens her with the power of true love. (Awwwww.)
In the original fairytale: The Grimm version of the story is actually very similar to the Disney movie. The main difference? The prince doesn’t have to fight off Maleficent or really do anything to get to the princess. He just happens to arrive right when her hundred years of snoozing is over.
Little Red Riding Hood
In the movie: A girl tries to survive living in a crazy town with a serious werewolf problem. She ends up (naturally) marrying a werewolf.
In the original fairy tale: A girl visiting her grandmother is plagued by a wolf that wants to eat her. Eventually, the wolf does eat her -- but a lumberjack cuts her out of its stomach and fills its body with stones. An outcome only slightly less weird than marrying a wolf.
Aladdin
In the film: A street urchin changes his life with the help of a genie found in a lamp. In order to save the woman he loves, he must defeat a powerful sultan. Once that’s done, he sets the genie free.
In the original fairytale: For one thing, the story takes place in China. Furthermore, there are two genies: A big one that comes from the lamp, but also a less-powerful one that comes out of a ring. After Aladdin kills the villain, he also has to deal with the villain’s evil brother.
Rapunzel
In the film: A girl has super-powered hair! It can heal people and can grow when she sings. She is locked in a tower, but soon gets out and goes on adventures with a charming thief.
In the original fairytale: A witch locks Rapunzel, a girl with abnormally long hair, in a tower. Eventually a prince discovers her and, using her hair, climbs up to where she is imprisoned. Before the two can escape, the witch gets wise to what’s going on, cuts off Rapunzel’s hair, and casts her out to die in the wilderness. When the prince comes back, the witch causes him to fall from the tower and go blind. The lovers end up finding each other anyway and live happily ever after.
