After much investigation from Bendigo Police, they have found this story to be one of the most common versions of what Little Red Riding Hood actually did. Children’s Literature News takes a look at Charles Perrault’s story from 1697.

Locals considered Little Red Riding Hood as a little village girl who was innocent and pretty – the real ‘girl next door’ type. However, some members of the community thought she was spoilt by her mother and grandmother. Apparently, her grandmother made her a red hood which is subsequently how she got her name (Zipes 1993: 91).

It is interesting to note that her cloak wasn’t as innocent as personality. Mr. Perrault believed her red cloak symbolised scandal and blood which suggested that her sins would influence her fate (Orenstein 2004). During this period in France, prostitution was quite common, and wearing a red cloak indicated this sort of behaviour (Orenstein 2004).

Mr. Perrault said it was winter time in France where there was a big danger of wolves to peasants and their children (Bacchilega 1997: 55). Mr. Perrault said he saw Little Red Riding Hood’s mother telling her to take some biscuits and a small pot of butter to her ill grandmother. Mr. Perrault then saw Little Red Riding Hood walking to the other village, where she met a wolf – the old neighbour. Perrault stated that he did caution Little Red Riding Hood about wolves taking interest in young girls but she seemed to not care (Bacchilega 1997: 56). Mr Perrault did mention that the wolf seemed interested in Little Red Riding Hood but didn’t want to attack her because of the woodcutters. However, Little Red Riding Hood told the wolf where she was going so the wolf suggested that they take different paths to see who gets to Grandmother’s house first.

Of course the wolf got there first. Little Red Riding Hood dawdled which caused her to get there later. The wolf pretended to be Little Red Riding Hood and the grandmother instructed the wolf how to open the door (“Pull the bobbin, and the latch will fall” (Zipes 1993: 93). The wolf entered and devoured the grandmother and dresseed in her clothes after which he for Little Red Riding Hood in bed.

Mr. Perrault recalled the conversation clearly from the grandmother’s house when Little Red Riding Hood arrived. He said that the wolf repeated what the grandmother told him to do when he knocked and tells her to put the things on the bin. She undresses (she didn’t strip tease and some witnesses have interpreted (Bacchilega 1997: 55) and hops into bed. Mr. Perrault got the impression that Little Red Riding Hood was astonished to see how big her grandmother’s arms, legs, ears, eyes and teeth were. The wolf saw this as the perfect opportunity to throw himself on Little Red Riding Hood and ate her up.

However, Bendigo police have doubts about Perrault’s story as he seemed to be telling a story that was closely related to his interests (Bacchilega 1997: 54). It seems to be that he has combined different stories to create his own appealing one (Bacchilega 1997: 55)

Investigators realised that Perrault didn’t make any direct sexual references in his statement, compared to other witnesses. He believed that ‘seduction relies on words or manners and that the flesh should remain concealed’ (Bacchilega 1997: 56). Furthermore, this made his statement more sinister and moralistic compared to later stories eg. Brothers Grimm.

Click here to read Charles Perrault’s statement.

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