The Evil Stepmother and Other Female Villains

The stepmother had a common role in the world of fairy tales. Almost always portrayed as an evil presence in her family, the young female character is often the victim of her cruelty. Jealousy is the usual culprit for the conniving behavior of the stepmother, whose looks match her personality quite well. The stepmother schemes to rid the house of her stepchildren, especially if they are beautiful and well-liked. She wants the children (especially the female) to be miserable, so that she is the most respected and powerful woman in the household, as if the love from her new husband is not enough.

An interesting theory presents the stepmother as a necessary "phase" in the life of the fairy tale princess. The stepmother represents the abjection from the birth mother, which allows the stepchild to develop their identity and independence. Unfortunately the stepmother puts her victims through unspeakable pain and suffering in the process, often beating, starving, and abandoning them, and even plotting their murder! Arguably the most infamous villain in fairy tale history, the stepmother, though downright nasty and evil, provides interesting lessons for the young and old reader alike.

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This old, wicked family cook meets her demise in this dramatic illustration. After planning to boil two young siblings in her home, the brother and sister magically transform into a pond and a duck. As the cook kneels down to drink from the pond, the daughter (disguised as the duck) pulls her in and drowns her. This transfer of power from evil to good among the female characters is an interesting departure from the usual finale praising only the male hero.

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Yet another victim of a stepmother’s curse, this sister stays by the side of her brother after he has been turned into a deer, so that he will not be hunted. Even after a King saves her and her deer brother, their stepmother continues to cause them great grief. She murders the sister, who is miraculously brought back to life by the King’s kiss. The stepmother meets her demise when she is burned to death, which reverses the curse of the deer.

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After setting off an a journey to find her promised prince, the goose-girl is forced to trade places with a jealous chambermaid before she arrives at the castle. Her talking horse, Falada, witnesses the exchange, so the chambermaid has him killed for the fear of his confession. Cast off to tend to geese while the chambermaid enjoys what was supposed to be her happy ending, the goose-girl maintains her humility and continues to work and endure a life of poverty. Thankfully, the prince discovers the truth, and the goose-girl takes her place in her destined kingdom. The chambermaid, however, is sentenced to death by being placed into a spiked barrel that is dragged, ironically, by horses.

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Elsa is knitting sweaters out of painful nettles she fetched from the cemetery in order to reverse a curse set by her stepmother, which turned her brothers into swans. The crowd angrily demands for her death, as her muteness, also part of the curse, has led them to believe she is a witch. Notice how she stays calm and determined in the face of adversity and embarrassment to save her family.

 

The Evil Stepmother and Other Female Villains