RAPUNZEL
by Brothers Grimm
Adapted Version
Once upon a time... There was a man. And there was a woman. They wanted a baby very much. Next door was a pretty garden.
The woman looked at the garden. She saw pretty flowers. She wanted them very very much.
The man went into the garden. He picked the flowers. But the witch saw him! She was very angry. "You took my flowers!" she said. "You must give me your baby!" The man was so scared. He said yes.
A baby girl was born. The witch came. She took the baby away. She called the baby Rapunzel.
Rapunzel grew and grew. She had very long golden hair. The witch put her in a tower. A tall tall tower. The tower had no door. It had no stairs. Only a small window at the top.
One day a prince rode by. He heard someone singing. The song was so pretty! He wanted to find who sang.
The prince hid behind a tree. He watched. The witch came. She called out to the tower. "Rapunzel, Rapunzel, let down your hair!" The long hair came down. The witch climbed up. Now the prince knew the trick!
The prince came to the tower. "Rapunzel, Rapunzel, let down your hair!" The hair came down. He climbed up. They became good friends. He wanted to help her get out.
One day Rapunzel told the witch. She told her about her new friend. Oh no! The witch was very very angry.
The mean witch cut her long hair. She sent Rapunzel far far away.
The prince came back. "Rapunzel, let down your hair!" he called. But it was the witch! "Rapunzel is gone!" she said.
The prince was very sad. He fell from the tower. He hurt his eyes. He could not see.
The prince walked and walked. He looked for Rapunzel. He was very sad.
Then one day he heard singing! It was Rapunzel! She was so happy she cried. Her tears fell on his eyes. He could see again! How happy they were!
The prince took Rapunzel home. They were so happy. And they lived happily ever after.
Original Story
RAPUNZEL
There was once a man and a woman, who had long in vain wished for a child. At length, the woman hoped that God was about to grant her desire.
These people had a little window at the back of their house from which a splendid garden could be seen. It was full of the most beautiful flowers and herbs. It was, however, surrounded by a high wall, and no one dared to go into it because it belonged to a Witch, who had great power and was dreaded by all the world.
One day, the woman was standing by this window and looking down into the garden, when she saw a bed which was planted with the most beautiful rampion (rapunzel), and it looked so fresh and green that she longed for it, and had the greatest desire to eat some.
This desire increased every day, and as she knew that she could not get any of it, she quite pined away, and looked pale and miserable.
Then her husband was alarmed, and asked, “What ails you, dear Wife?”
25 “Ah,” she replied, “if I can’t get some of the rampion to eat, which is in the garden behind our house, I shall die.”
The man, who loved her, thought, “Sooner than let your wife die, bring her some of the rampion yourself, let it cost you what it will!”
In the twilight of evening, he clambered over the wall into the garden of the Witch, hastily clutched a handful of rampion, and took it to his wife. She at once made herself a salad of it, and ate it with much relish.
She, however, liked it so much—so very much—that the next day she longed for it three times as much as before. If he was to have any rest, her husband must once more descend into the garden. In the gloom of evening, therefore, he let himself down again. But when he had clambered down the wall he was terribly afraid, for he saw the Witch standing before him.
“How dare you,” said she with angry look, “descend into my garden and steal my rampion like a thief? You shall suffer for it!”
“Ah,” answered he, “let mercy take the place of justice! I had to do it out of necessity. My wife saw your rampion from the window, and felt such a longing for it that she would have died, if she had not got some to eat.”
Then the Witch let her anger be softened, and said to him, “If the case be as you say, I will allow you to take away with you as much rampion as you will, only I make one condition, you must give me the child which your wife will bring into the world. It shall be well treated, and I will care for it like a mother.”
The man in his terror consented to everything, and when the 26 woman at last had a little daughter, the Witch appeared at once, gave the child the name of Rapunzel, and took it away with her.
Rapunzel grew into the most beautiful child beneath the sun. When she was twelve years old, the Witch shut her into a tower, which lay in a forest, and had neither stairs nor door. But quite at the top was a little window. When the Witch wanted to go in, she placed herself beneath this, and cried:
Rapunzel had magnificent long hair, fine as spun gold, and when she heard the voice of the Witch, she unfastened her braided tresses and wound them round one of the hooks of the window above. And then the hair fell twenty ells down, and the Witch climbed up by it.
After a year or two, it came to pass that the King’s Son rode through the forest and went by the tower. Then he heard a song, which was so charming that he stood still and listened. This was Rapunzel, who in her solitude passed her time in letting her sweet voice resound.
The King’s Son wanted to climb up to her, and looked for the door of the tower, but none was to be found. He rode home, but the singing had so deeply touched his heart, that every day he went out into the forest and listened to it.
Once when he was thus standing behind a tree, he saw that a Witch came there, and he heard how she cried:
27 Then Rapunzel let down the braids of her hair, and the Witch climbed up to her.
“If that is the ladder by which one mounts, I will for once try my fortune,” said he.
The next day when it began to grow dark, he went to the tower and cried:
Immediately the hair fell down, and the King’s Son climbed up.
At first Rapunzel was terribly frightened when a man, such as her eyes had never yet beheld, came to her. But the King’s Son began to talk to her quite like a friend, and told her that his heart had been so stirred, that it had let him have no rest, so he had been forced to see her.
Then Rapunzel lost her fear, and when he asked her if she would take him for her husband, and she saw that he was young and handsome, she thought, “He will love me more than old Dame Gothel does;” and she said yes, and laid her hand in his.
She said also, “I will willingly go away with you, but I do not know how to get down. Bring with you a skein of silk every time that you come, and I will weave a ladder with it. When that is ready I will descend, and you will take me on your horse.”
They agreed that until that time, he should come to her every evening, for the old woman came by day. The Witch remarked nothing of this, until once Rapunzel said to her, “Tell me, Dame Gothel, how it happens that you are so much heavier 28 for me to draw up, than the young King’s Son—he is with me in a moment.”
“Ah! you wicked Child!” cried the Witch. “What do I hear you say! I thought I had separated you from all the world, and yet you have deceived me!”
In her anger she clutched Rapunzel’s beautiful tresses, wrapped them twice round her left hand, seized a pair of scissors with the right, and snip, snap, they were cut off, and the lovely braids lay on the ground. And she was so pitiless that she took poor Rapunzel into a desert, where she had to live in great grief and misery.
On the same day, however, that she cast out Rapunzel, the Witch, in the evening, fastened the braids of hair which she had cut off, to the hook of the window; and when the King’s Son came and cried:
she let the hair down.
The King’s Son ascended. He did not find his dearest Rapunzel above, but the Witch, who gazed at him with wicked and venomous looks.
“Aha!” she cried mockingly, “you would fetch your dearest! But the beautiful bird sits no longer singing in the nest. The cat has got it, and will scratch out your eyes as well. Rapunzel is lost to you! You will never see her more!”
The King’s Son was beside himself with grief and in his despair he leapt down from the tower. He escaped with his life, but the thorns into which he fell, pierced his eyes. Then he 29 wandered quite blind about the forest, ate nothing but roots and berries, and did nothing but lament and weep over the loss of his dearest wife.
Thus he roamed about in misery for some years, and at length came to the desert where Rapunzel lived in wretchedness. He heard a voice, and it seemed so familiar to him that he went toward it. When he approached, Rapunzel knew him, and fell on his neck and wept. Two of her tears wetted his eyes and they grew clear again, and he could see with them as before.
He led her to his Kingdom where he was joyfully received, and they lived for a long time, happy and contented.
Story DNA
Moral
True love and perseverance can overcome even the most formidable obstacles and cruelest enchantments.
Plot Summary
A desperate husband steals rampion from a witch's garden for his pregnant wife, promising their unborn child in return. The witch takes the baby, Rapunzel, and later locks her in a tower, accessible only by her long hair. A prince discovers Rapunzel, falls in love, and plans their escape, but Rapunzel accidentally reveals their secret to the witch. Enraged, the witch cuts Rapunzel's hair, banishes her to a desert, and blinds the prince. After years of wandering, the blind prince finds Rapunzel and their children; her tears restore his sight, and they return to his kingdom to live happily ever after.
Themes
Emotional Arc
suffering to triumph
Writing Style
Narrative Elements
Cultural Context
The Grimm's version is a compilation of older oral traditions, reflecting common European folklore motifs of imprisonment, magical hair, and a prince's quest.
Plot Beats (15)
- A childless couple lives next to a witch's walled garden.
- The pregnant wife craves rampion from the witch's garden to the point of illness.
- The husband steals rampion for his wife, is caught by the witch, and promises their firstborn child in exchange for his life and the rampion.
- The witch takes the newborn girl, names her Rapunzel, and raises her.
- At age twelve, the witch imprisons Rapunzel in a tall tower without doors or stairs, accessible only by Rapunzel's long hair.
- A prince, riding through the forest, hears Rapunzel singing and is captivated.
- The prince observes the witch calling Rapunzel's hair down and uses the same method to visit Rapunzel.
- Rapunzel and the prince fall in love and plan her escape by weaving a ladder from silk the prince brings.
- Rapunzel innocently reveals the prince's visits to the witch, who discovers the deception.
- The witch, in a fury, cuts off Rapunzel's hair, banishes her to a desert, and then uses the cut hair to trap the prince.
- The prince climbs the hair, finds the witch instead of Rapunzel, and is told Rapunzel is lost to him.
- In despair, the prince leaps from the tower, falling into thorns that blind him.
- The blind prince wanders for years, eating roots and berries, lamenting Rapunzel.
- He eventually finds Rapunzel in the desert, now with twins, and her tears restore his sight.
- The prince leads Rapunzel and their children to his kingdom, where they live happily.
Characters
Rapunzel ★ protagonist
Exceedingly beautiful, with extraordinarily long, golden hair
Attire: Simple dress, likely homespun, appropriate for a girl confined to a tower
Initially frightened but trusting, obedient, and ultimately loving
Image Prompt & Upload
A young woman in her late teens with large, expressive green eyes and a warm, hopeful smile. She has exceptionally long, flowing golden blonde hair that cascades around her and pools on the floor. She is wearing a simple, elegant lavender purple dress with long sleeves and a square neckline. Her hair is adorned with small, woven flowers. She stands in a relaxed pose, gently holding a thick strand of her own hair. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
Witch ⚔ antagonist
Dreaded, with great power, suggesting a formidable and perhaps grotesque appearance
Attire: Dark, flowing robes, perhaps adorned with strange symbols or charms
Cruel, possessive, and easily angered
Image Prompt & Upload
An elderly woman with a gaunt face, sharp cheekbones, and a crooked nose, her long gray hair tangled and unkempt beneath a tall pointed black hat. She wears a tattered dark purple robe with frayed edges, cinched at the waist with a twisted leather belt holding small glass vials. Her fingers are long and bony, one hand gripping a gnarled wooden staff topped with a glowing red orb. Her expression is a sinister smirk, eyes gleaming with malicious intent. She stands in a slightly hunched yet commanding posture, as if casting a spell. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
King's Son ★ protagonist
Handsome and persistent
Attire: Fine clothing befitting a prince, including a tunic, hose, and perhaps a cloak
Brave, determined, and romantic
Image Prompt & Upload
A young prince in his late teens with a noble, determined expression, standing tall and confident. He has short, wavy chestnut hair and bright, focused eyes. He wears a fitted royal blue tunic with gold embroidery along the collar and cuffs, a dark leather belt with a silver buckle, and sturdy brown boots. A simple, elegant silver circlet rests on his brow. His posture is upright and heroic, one hand resting gently on the pommel of a sheathed sword at his hip. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
Man ◆ supporting
Driven by love for his wife
Attire: Simple peasant clothing
Loving, desperate, and fearful
Image Prompt & Upload
A middle-aged man with kind eyes and a gentle smile, appearing approachable and dependable. He has short, neatly combed brown hair with a few strands of gray at the temples. He is dressed in simple, practical clothing: a soft linen tunic in a muted blue, brown leather trousers, and sturdy boots. His posture is relaxed but attentive, standing with his hands loosely clasped in front of him as if ready to help. He has a sturdy, average build. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
Woman ◆ supporting
Longing for rampion
Attire: Simple peasant clothing
Desperate, longing, and demanding
Image Prompt & Upload
A mature woman with kind, crinkled eyes and a gentle smile, her silver-streaked hair neatly braided and coiled. She wears layered robes of soft, earthy-toned linen, with an embroidered shawl draped over her shoulders. Her posture is relaxed and welcoming, one hand slightly extended as if offering aid. She stands on a simple stone path. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
Locations
Witch's Garden
A splendid garden full of beautiful flowers and herbs, surrounded by a high wall.
Mood: coveted, forbidden, dangerous
The husband steals rampion for his wife, encountering the Witch and making a deal for their future child.
Image Prompt & Upload
Enchanting witch's garden at twilight, bathed in soft purple and deep blue hues. A high, ancient stone wall, covered in creeping ivy and glowing moonflowers, encloses the space. Inside, winding gravel paths meander through lush, overgrown beds of magical herbs like shimmering silverleaf and luminescent nightshade. Clusters of fantastical flowers—deep crimson roses with an inner glow, floating celestial blossoms, and whispering foxgloves—create a tapestry of vibrant color. A central stone fountain, carved with arcane symbols, gently trickles with glowing water. The air is thick with a gentle, magical mist that catches the last light of day, and tiny, floating orbs of light drift among the plants. The atmosphere is serene, mysterious, and deeply magical. no border, no frame, no watermark, no text, no signature, edge-to-edge illustration.
Rapunzel's Tower
A tall tower in a forest, with no stairs or door, but a small window at the top.
Mood: isolated, lonely, magical
Rapunzel is imprisoned, sings to pass the time, and is visited by the Witch and later the Prince.
Image Prompt & Upload
Twilight bathes an ancient, dense forest in deep blues and purples. In a small clearing stands a single, impossibly tall stone tower, its surface weathered and covered in creeping ivy and moss. The tower has no visible door or staircase, only a single small arched window near the very top, glowing with a warm, inviting golden light from within. The surrounding forest is thick with gnarled trees, ferns, and patches of softly glowing bioluminescent mushrooms. A faint mist clings to the forest floor, illuminated by the last rays of sunset filtering through the canopy. The atmosphere is serene, mysterious, and deeply secluded. no border, no frame, no watermark, no text, no signature, edge-to-edge illustration.
Desert Wasteland
A desolate desert where Rapunzel is banished to live in grief and misery.
Mood: desolate, grief-stricken, miserable
Rapunzel lives in exile until she is reunited with the blinded Prince, and her tears restore his sight.
Image Prompt & Upload
A vast, barren desert under a bruised sunset sky, painted in shades of ochre, ash, and deep purple. The cracked earth is parched and fissured, stretching to a flat, featureless horizon. Skeletal remains of dead trees and scattered, sun-bleached bones litter the foreground. A single, crumbling stone tower stands impossibly distant on the horizon, a dark silhouette against the fading light. The air is thick with heat haze and swirling dust devils. The atmosphere is one of profound isolation and oppressive stillness. no border, no frame, no watermark, no text, no signature, edge-to-edge illustration.
