The Company of Wolves...

I felt today we had a great discussion over the story by Angela Carter. I can understand why some people don't understand, or enjoy her works compared to the Little Red Cap, and Little Red Riding Hood. Personality, I believed that her was evocative, and a step beyond most fairy tales. Plus when i think of typical fairy tales I see it as a narrative that is most likely read to children or young people; Angela Carter's modern variation of this story isn't the case. She molds her stories to a more mature audience which I believe is also important toward the understand of her style of narratives.

Now into the story. At the beginning it seems to take a different step from the other versions of the story from Grimm Brothers, and Charles Perrault. Those two versions start off like Once Upon a time; one style I am not a huge fan of. I just see that as too easy of a way to begin a story, I enjoy more creative starts. It feels much like and Mike hit his alarm clock to start the day off right. That is way too easy, and over done. But the idea behind once upon a time is that it is directed toward a young, child like audience; so i guess overall it makes some sense.

But into the common text that Carter creates; first, you need to feel the power images she places in the story. Instead of beginning with Little Red Riding Hood, she starts with the wolf. And molds him into the villain position immediately. She plays with colors, and dark motifs to move the story forward. Then at the same time she makes the young girl in the piece is coming of age, and the red hood symbols the period a woman goes through. I felt that was important, and stated toward the beginning. Carter makes the wolves seem so dark, and bad; while at the same exact time making the girl seem so innocent.

Like we talked about in class i felt that this story is story about young women not trusting strangers, and huge roles of seduction at the end. It almost empowers the woman, but the man or wolf seems to be in complete control. Maybe Carter wanted women to understand that they can be in control even if the other person doesn't believe this to be the case. I don't really know. Regardless, Carter wanted to drive home the fact that you need to stay on the path to overcome, and to become successful.

Then to what i felt was the most important parts of the story, the ending phrase. The wolf eats the grand mom just like the past stories, but then the wolf seducts the little girl. He makes the girl feel as if she is the animal with the lines<> He belittles the girl into the role of animals, she is below him in the chain of command. But as you think she is doing what she doesn't really want to do, the story shifts with the line<> It is going against itself. She gave freely something she owed, or had to give him. That kiss made all the other wolves howl, and lower themselves toward the other wolf.

Then she laughed because she knew she was nobodys meat. Maybe that was why she did what she did. She was looking at it big picture, either give the kiss and live or not and die. If you can understand the social roles, then it makes some sense.

Another important part of the story was the last two paragraphs that began like:
Midnight:and the clock strikes. It is Christmas Day, the werewolves' birthday, the door of the solstice stands wide open; let them all sink through.
See! sweet and sound she sleeps in granny's bed, between the paws of the tender wolf.

There is some strange love affair going on. And of all days it is on Christmas, the day of powering, and holy. Maybe this is a sign of change and that goodness will overcome I am not really sure. But when you look that all the wolf sink through; I feel that they are taking advance of the innocent young girl. She is now dirty from all the wolves having sex with her, and making her now not a virgin. Then at the same time she makes the wolf tender, he has a soft spot in his empty heart for this girl. Love is a powerful thing.

Something i forgot to say earlier is that wolves sometimes hid in sheep clothing, as another important point Carter was trying to push on the readers. The wolf was original a hunter if I am correct, and no sign that he was dangerous or a wolf. He was a man not an animal. But is this a coming of the age story or a wake up call for young women I don't really know. Angela Carter is an amazing writer in my eyes, even though she is dark, and twisted.