From Patriarchal Obedience to Feminist Agency: Rewriting Little Red Riding Hood From Grimm to Roald Dahl

The current study investigates the Brothers Grimm's traditional version of "Little Red Riding Hood" and the British author Roald Dahl's modern poetic version in Revolting Rhymes from a feminist standpoint. It further examines how feminist thought has represented the agency of female characters in fairy tales. Through close reading and literary comparison, the study shows that the traditional version of the Brothers Grimm is fully influenced by patriarchal society, negatively depicting Red Riding Hood as dependent, submissive, and always in need of 'male' physical and emotional support to survive. It, however, presents a very empowered version of Dahl, reflecting the agency and power of second- and third-wave feminist values that strongly call for 'women's self-sufficiency in pursuit of self-actualization.' Thus, Little Red Riding Hood is presented as an independent, entertaining protagonist who undermines traditional gender roles and outsmarts the wolf without male support. Furthermore, this paper argues that Dahl's use of humor and irony aligns with a broader artistic shift toward depicting female figures in fairy tales. Ultimately, the study reveals the influential role of feminist dialogue in transforming literary prototypes and increasing young readers' awareness of masculinity/femininity, independence, and morality. By comparing and contrasting the two works, the study highlights the importance of storytelling as a technique for creating change.