Little Red Riding Hood: A Parable of Sexuality

The eating or swallowing of Little Red Riding Hood is an obvious sexual act symbolizing the uncontrollable appetizer chaos of nature. When Red goes off the path she opens the door to the wildness of sexuality but also to its potential for violence and predation. One author argues literary fairy tales were consciously cultivated and employed in 17th century France to reinforce the regulation of sexuality. In this context little red cap can be seen as a struggle for sexual domination by men and rebellion by women.