The Little Glass Slipper

During the Enlightenment, writers like Charles Perrault debated 17th-century contemporaries regarding the modern movement versus the ancient classics. His argument did not sit well with those who revered the legacy of the Greeks and Romans. He defended his beliefs and wrote Le Parallèle des Anciens et des Modernes en ce qui regarde les Arts et les Sciences (Parallel Between Ancients and Moderns Concerning Arts and Sciences). In line with his philosophy of challenging then-classic Greco-Roman literature, Perrault interpreted well-known folktales, traditionally shared orally from generation to generation, into published works that ultimately led to a standardized format for fairytales. His collection titled Tales of Mother Goose, in addition to “Cinderilla,” included “Little Red Riding Hood” and “Sleeping Beauty in the Woods.”

This fairy tale was published in 1697 during the reign of Louis XIV, who passionately encouraged artistic culture in his court. Perrault wrote many pieces for the king as part of his patronage. The aristocracy and the royal court significantly influenced the literature and arts of the time. During this period, there was a growing interest in storytelling and folklore. Fairy tales were popular among the modern French elite, particularly in literary salons; these were intentionally set apart from the court, where writers and intellectuals gathered to discuss literature.