“The Robber Bridegroom” by Brothers Grimm Presentation

Introduction

• Brothers Grimm published “The Robber Bridegroom” in 1812.
• The fairy tale reflects patriarchy in society where the father is the absolute authority (Brothers Grimm 1).
• This fairy tale does not refer to the mother of the girl at all, in fact, she plays no role.
• The father makes the decision to marry off her daughter to any groom who is worthy of her.
• The girl and the old woman challenge patriarchy in society (Tatar 52).

Analysis

• In a patriarchy, the father has the absolute responsibility to seek for a husband for her daughter.
• The father does not consider her daughter’s wishes or feelings.
• The arranged marriage would proceed because the girl cannot challenge her father’s position in such a society.
• The daughter would bear all consequences in any case her father makes wrong decisions.
• The groom uses temporary ashes as a means to provide a one-way direction to the girl, but the girl uses her own signs (lentils and peas) because she does not trust the groom.
• Ashes signify destruction whereas peas and lentils show life and growth.
• Women must struggle in a male-dominated society with deeply entrenched social values for their prosperity and safety.
• Women’s survival in such a society depends on their abilities to collaborate.
• In addition, they must also use their wits and instincts to escape dangers from dangerous men in society.
• The fairy tale depicts gruesome scenes of murder, rape, and cannibalism acts of men.

Conclusion

• Men have the economic power and control society while women lack economic means and must rely on men.
• Men have used their position to engage in gruesome acts like cannibalism, rape, and murder.
• The struggle for gender equality is far from over for women.
• The fairy tale shows that it is a struggle that goes beyond the family to include the whole society.
• Today, egalitarianism remains unrealized dream for most women, but the struggle continues.

Works Cited

Brothers Grimm. The robber bridegroom. 1812. Web.

Tatar, Maria. The Classic Fairy Tales. New York: W.W. Norton & Company Inc., 1999. Print.