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AUTHOR
Svea Hundertmark
Englisches Seminar der Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel
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'Both Hero and Villain' – Rewriting the Tale, Revising the Villain, and Retelling Gender in Disney's Maleficent (2014)
Fairy tale films have always been popular but since the beginning of the twenty-first century many well-known fairy tales have been once again retold and refashioned. This article analyses Maleficent (2014), Disney's retelling of their own film Sleeping Beauty (1959), which is an adaptation of The Sleeping Beauty in the Wood by Charles Perrault. Maleficent draws on the animated Disney film and other versions of the fairy tale while telling the story from the perspective of the evil fairy. This change of perspective results in a reinterpretation of the villain. Additionally, Maleficent counterbalances the inactivity of the sleeping beauty, reimagining the story as a narrative about female empowerment. Focusing on the revenge taken by the protagonist as well as her healing process and ultimate redemption, this article examines how the changes in perspective and plot offer a different interpretation of the role of women in the fairy tale 'Sleeping Beauty'.
Keywords: Maleficent; Sleeping Beauty; Disney; fairy tales; fairy tale films; rewriting fairy tales; revising the villain; questioning gender roles
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CRICOS Code: 00126G
