Jul 9, 2025
Blood, betrayal, death: 8 fairytales students never knew had twisted origins
Anjali MittalBefore Disney made us believe in happily-ever-afters
Talking rabbits, splendid kingdoms, tales of love, tales of hope. Disney made all our childhoods shine under starlight with the most beautiful happily-ever-after stories. The versions students are never taught, however, are filled with sinister realities of a much darker world.
Image Source: Unsplash
Cinderella
The Brothers Grimm version is much darker than modern adaptations. Stepsisters mutilate their feet to fit the glass slipper, one cuts off her toes, the other her heel. Birds later peck out their eyes as punishment.
Image Source: Unsplash
Little Red Riding Hood
Charles Perrault's original 1697 version ends with the wolf eating the girl, no happy ending. It was a cautionary tale about talking to strangers and losing innocence before the Grimms added the hunter's rescue.
Image Source: Unsplash
Snow White
The Evil Queen's punishment is brutal in the Grimms' version, she's forced to wear hot iron shoes and dance until she dies. Her obsessive vanity and cruelty are much darker than Disney's portrayal.
Image Source: Unsplash
Hansel and Gretel
A deeply disturbing tale where children are abandoned by their parents in the woods. The wicked witch plans to fatten Hansel up to eat him. The children eventually push the witch into her own oven, burning her alive.
Image Source: Unsplash
The Little Mermaid
Hans Christian Andersen's version has no happy ending. The mermaid's transformation causes constant pain, her love is unrequited, and she dies, turning into sea foam rather than living happily ever after.
Image Source: Unsplash
Rapunzel
In the Brothers Grimm original, the witch blinds the prince when he comes to rescue Rapunzel. After many years, they're reunited and her tears heal his blindness, but themes of imprisonment and violence remain.
Image Source: Unsplash
Beauty and the Beast
Gabrielle-Suzanne Barbot de Villeneuve's original is much darker. Beauty's family struggles, her father is punished for stealing a rose, and gets trapped in the Beast's castle. More violence and tragic backstory included.
Image Source: Unsplash
The Pied Piper of Hamelin
After townspeople refuse to pay him for removing rats, the Pied Piper uses his magical pipe to lure children away from Hamelin. In some versions, children are led to caves or drowned, a tale of betrayal and revenge.
Image Source: Unsplash
Thanks For Reading!