Sleeping Beauty - A 5 Minute History

In this special "5 Minute History" episode of Tales of Bedlam, host Micah takes you on a whirlwind journey through six centuries of the Sleeping Beauty fairy tale. 

This episode uncovers how the story transformed over time, from its unsettling origins in the 1300s oral tale Troy and Zeladine to the shocking events in Sun, Moon, and Talia and finally to the more sanitized and romanticized versions by Perrault, the Brothers Grimm, and Quiller-Couch.

You'll hear about themes that were once central—non-consensual sex, betrayal, and cannibalism—and how later versions reshaped the narrative to focus on love, respect, and redemption. Whether you're a fairy tale aficionado or a history buff, this episode offers an eye-opening look at one of the world's most beloved stories.

Tune in, learn something new, and prepare for the next full episode featuring Sun, Moon, and Talia—the tale that started it all.

A5 is a five-minute fun history lesson with host Micah on a fairy tale subject, usually preceding a fairy tale story with hosts Micah and Andrea.

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Transcript

Micah 0:12

Welcome to Tales of Bedlam. I'm your host, Micah, and welcome to my deep dive into the fascinating history of one of the most beloved fairy tales, Sleeping Beauty. Today, I alone will discuss six versions of this story, and, don't worry, it's really not that long, each adding a new layer to the tale as it evolved over the centuries. Trigger warning: some of these stories involve non-consensual sex and cannibalism. Our journey starts in the 1300s with an oral tale called Troy and Zeladine. In this early version, a deity curses Princess Zeladine, putting her into a deep, deep sleep. Years later, a prince named Troilus finds her and, instead of waking her with a kiss, takes advantage of her while she sleeps. While it was not called Sleeping Beauty, it's considered the earliest written version of the story; forward to 1636 in Italy, where we find Giambattista Basil's version titled Sun, Moon, and Talia. is not good. She becomes pregnant and gives birth to a child while still unconscious. This oral tale was first published in 1528 in a French collection of fairy tales called Persephorus.

Micah 1:31

In this story, the king learns from wise men that his daughter Talia will one day face grave peril from a splinter of flax. Despite his precautions, she pricks her finger on a splinter and falls asleep. A married king finds her and, similar to our earlier tale, he takes advantage of her while she sleeps. This is in no way okay. Again, after nine months, Talia gives birth to two beautiful children, a boy and a girl. Talia eventually wakes up when one of her newborn twins sucks the splinter from her finger. The story continues with the king's jealous wife plotting to cook and eat the children, but a kind cook saves them. The tale ends with the king marrying Talia and punishing his wife. The story's end is morally wrong and unjust towards the king's wife and Talia. In an equal world, the king is the one who should have been punished for being unfaithful to his wife and assaulting Talia.

Micah 2:38

Charles Peralt's Sleeping Beauty in the Wood tells a gentler story in France. In this version, the princess has both parents. The king and queen and the entire court fall asleep with her, only to awaken together. The prince does not assault her, but instead kneels before her. She awakens, they talk, and they fall in love. However, the story still has a dark side. This time, the princess mother is an ogress who wants to eat the couple's children, to enact revenge on the princess, but again a cook saves the day. Then, in Germany, during the 1800s, the Brothers Grimm further sanitized this tale. They removed the themes of rape and cannibalism, making the story more suitable for children. This version introduces the iconic kiss that awakens the princess, symbolizing true love's power.

Micah 3:34

Finally, in 1910, the English version of Sir Arthur Quiller, Couch Couch I wish my last name was Couch, that's pretty, pretty neat which most resembles the story we tell today. This version is the most romanticized, emphasizing love and respect. The prince kneels and kisses the princess's hand, not her lips, showing a newfound sensitivity and gentleness. With that, her enchantment ended. The princessa gazed at him with a tenderness that seemed far beyond what their first meeting would justify.

Micah 4:10

Throughout these versions, we see a clear evolution from a dark adult tale filled with violence and tragedy, to a more child-friendly story, emphasizing love and respect. Emphasizing love and respect. Each alliteration adds a new piece to the puzzle, creating a rich tapestry that tells the complete story of Sleeping Beauty. There you have it A journey through six centuries of Sleeping Beauty, a tale that has captivated audiences for generations. Join us for our next episode, where we will tell the story of Sun, moon and Talia, the first of three Sleeping Beauty versions we will record. Thank you for listening. Please share Tales of Bedlam with a fellow podcast enthusiast today and visit our website at talesofbedlamcom for more fairy tale fun and have a good night.