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Feminist Critical Theory asks readers to analyze written works through the lens of presented gender roles and stereotypes; women are seen in traditional roles. Power situations are also a focus, where female characters can be perceived as having less power (physical, intellectual, moral) than their male counterparts.
The feminist concepts which are conveyed through the classic tale of Little Red Riding Hood are based on morals of unlawful predators, lust, and pedophilia preying on women and children. These concepts are shown through the characters of Red Riding Hood as well as by her grandmother. Red Riding Hood is first described as an overall lovable girl who is rather naive. However, her independence is exemplified through the trust she has in her mother to run errands that would usually be done by an adult but are entrusted to her at a young age. The lack of a father figure is ultimately why Little Red Riding Hood went into the forest blind; the father is usually presented as a protector, which Little Red Riding Hood lacks, while the mother is unable to take over that role due to the specific gender roles. When Little Red Riding Hood is walking alone on the path toward her grandmother's house, this represents her transformation into a woman who is able to make her own decisions. Although, the decisions she makes later on in the tale aren't well thought out and describe a women's inability to be independent.
The mother ...
