Sleeping Beauty

A few years ago, a friend of mine made an interesting parallel.

While discussing her past two marriages, she said, "Well, Snow White is my favorite fairy tale." When I further inquired what that had to do with anything at all, she relayed a theory to me: That women live their favorite fairy tale, complete with picking men like the prince in said fairy tale.

She, for example had chosen two men that she barely knew, who required a good deal of housecleaning before they would be kind to her. And she would watch all her nieces and nephews and so forth, without ever thinking of asking for payment. She felt she was living her fairy tale well.












It was easy for me to answer when she asked me what my favorite was.

















My emotionally favorite Disney movie, and in fact favorite Fairy Tale, is The Sleeping Beauty. This love has gone so far as to almost name my daughter Aurora Nylie, rather than the name she currently possesses. (Yay for a rational husband!)


I have always desired long hair, to be like Aurora. I have always wanted to have a beautiful voice, to be like Aurora. I have always loved singing out doors above all other displays of my talent, to be like Aurora. I have a tendency to collect baskets; just in case some berries need picking.

And I usually put myself to sleep with the image of myself as a sleeping beauty in a tall tower overlooking the ocean









Of the women I have spoken to about this theory, not a single one of them sided with me. They want to be like Belle and tame the Beast. Or to be like Jasmine and break free of their really spoiled surroundings. They feel put upon and like Cinderella desire to be saved merely by riches. Some want to save their men, like the Disney Pocahontas, or Mulan. Others feel themselves unworthy of love, and will thereby sacrifice themselves to show it, like Meg. And still others love the idea of leaving their families for a prince, and giving up who they are to be accepted. You can see why I don't have a high opinion of the other princesses. I find fault with not necessarily their choice in men, but most often with their choices of how to obtain their men.

I wanted to be chosen! For my beauty, for my talents, for the feeling of strength and peace I could offer a man.

I loved the idea of a man being chosen by my Father, who would, on his own, also chose me, and I him. We would dance. We would sing together, we would enjoy the outdoors and he would overcome all manner of obstacles simply to secure me forever! He would be my hero.



Of course, I have heard the argument that Sleeping Beauty has very little personality. BUT let's consider that the movie, and in fact the fairy tale, focus on her opposition rather than on her. It was assumed from day one that she could not handle the truth of her life or the curse that hung over it. If someone had just said, "Hey, be sure you don't touch any spindles, or you'll die." I have a feeling she'd have stayed away from that glowing green spindle! And, she was smart enough to fall in love with Phillip, who was an awesome guy. So she can't have been all that dumb.




So, say what you will about my Sleeping Beauty like tendencies, but it cannot be denied that at the end of the day I am super smart if for no other reason than that I chose Muad'Dib. And I can't be all bad, because even aware of my 'curses,' dragons' 'enemies' and odd perceptions: that manly prince of a man also chose ME!




So, what's your favorite fairy tale?