The true tales behind Disney’s princesses

Disney has built much of its popular movies by borrowing tales from the works of the Brothers Grimm. While Disney's iterations are much more audience friendly and bubbly, the originals versions by the Brothers Grimm are usually quite gruesome and unsuitable for children.

Let's compare some of the Disney versions against that of the original fables from the Brothers Grimm.

Snow White

In the Brothers Grimm version of Snow White, the queen doesn't just want Snow White's internal organs as evidence of her death, but she also gleefully consumes them with the hope that this act will turn her into the most beautiful woman in all the land.

Moreover, Snow White isn't revived by the prince's kiss in the original, rather he takes her body to his castle to ensure she had a proper resting place. However, while transporting her, one of the servants tripped and lost his balance, falling down in the process. As a result, the piece of poisoned apple was dislodged from Snow White's throat, and she was revived.

This is when the prince proposed to her and she accepted his hand in marriage.

Later, the queen came to learn that the prince's bride was fairer than her. So, she went to the wedding to investigate this and was immediately recognised by Snow White.

The prince then ordered the queen to wear a pair of red-hot iron slippers and to dance in them until she dropped dead.

Cinderella

In the Brothers Grimm version, Cinderella's stepsisters disfigure their feet while trying to put on the slipper. One of them cuts off her toes, while the other loses a part of her heel in the process.

However, they were unable to trick the prince and he was finally able to find his one true love, Cinderella.

Later, the sisters are invited to the wedding where Cinderella's doves plucked out the siblings' eyes.

Sleeping Beauty

The tale of Sleeping Beauty is also adopted from the Brothers Grimm's collection, which was based on the work of French author Charles Perrault.

In the original tale, a dangerous prophecy was made on the day of Sleeping Beauty's birth. After pricking her finger, she falls into a deep enchanted sleep.

As time passes by, one day a king enters her chamber and is struck by her beauty. He kisses her, but she does not wake up. However, he is so charmed by her beauty that he rapes her in her sleep and left immediately afterwards.

Nine months later, the princess gave birth to twin babies in her sleep. One of them removes the cursed flax from their mother's body while attempting to nurse from her, as a result she finally wakes up.

The king then returns and brings her back to his palace, where his jealous wife comes up with the vicious plan to kill Sleeping Beauty and her children, and cook them into a stew. Furthermore, she planned to feed this stew to her unfaithful husband.

When the king realises this, he throws his wife into the boiling cauldron instead and she dies a painful death.