Perrault, Charles. “Griselidis Nouvelle.” Griselidis Nouvelle avec le conte de peau d’asne, et celuy des souhaits ridicules, Quatrième édition, Paris, Jean-Baptiste Coignard, 1695, pp. 5–62.
Item
Book Title
Perrault, Charles. “Griselidis Nouvelle.” Griselidis Nouvelle avec le conte de peau d’asne, et celuy des souhaits ridicules, Quatrième édition, Paris, Jean-Baptiste Coignard, 1695, pp. 5–62.
Book Author/Editor
Perrault, Charles
City of Publication
Paris
Publisher
Jean-Baptists Coignard
Date
1695
Language
French
Fairy Tale Title
Griselidis Nouvelle
Author of the Chapter/Fairy Tale
Charles Perrault
Fairy Tale Group
Persecuted maiden
Summary
Griselidis Nouvelle tells the story of a young and valiant Prince who distrusts women. He is beloved by his people, who urge him to marry in order to have an heir, but his jealousy prevents him from seeking a wife. One day while hunting he gets lost and sees a woman in the woods who catches his eye: she is beautiful and living a modest rural life in solitude with only her father.
They marry, and she is as wise leading the people as she was leading the sheep. She gives birth to a girl, whom she chooses to nurse. The Prince decides he must test her devotion by trying to drive her to anger and disobedience. He locks her away in a room and takes away her jewels. She reacts with tenderness. He then removes the child, saying he knows a woman better suited to raise her to be a Princess. Griselidis, face covered in tears, does not protest. The Prince leaves the girl in a monastery, but tells Griselidis that she has died. Though she is heartbroken, she consoles the Prince in his false show of sadness.
Fifteen years later, the daughter has grown into a beautiful and sensible woman. A young man from the court falls in love her, and the Prince decides to torment them so that they may better appreciate the happiness that will come from their marriage. He also sees an opportunity to reveal to the court and his people the incredible patience and virtue of Griselidis. He tells her that the people want him to have an heir, and that they are unhappy with her low birth, and so he has found a young princess to marry. He wants Griselidis to help prepare for her arrival. When she meets the young woman, she feels a maternal sadness and protectiveness, and warns the Prince to be kind to her, because this beautiful young princess would not be able to deal with the sort of suffering that she had endured.
On the wedding day, the Prince reveals his actions. He praises the limitless patience of Griselidis, and offers his daughter to her beloved. Together he and Griselidis prepare for their daughter's wedding.
They marry, and she is as wise leading the people as she was leading the sheep. She gives birth to a girl, whom she chooses to nurse. The Prince decides he must test her devotion by trying to drive her to anger and disobedience. He locks her away in a room and takes away her jewels. She reacts with tenderness. He then removes the child, saying he knows a woman better suited to raise her to be a Princess. Griselidis, face covered in tears, does not protest. The Prince leaves the girl in a monastery, but tells Griselidis that she has died. Though she is heartbroken, she consoles the Prince in his false show of sadness.
Fifteen years later, the daughter has grown into a beautiful and sensible woman. A young man from the court falls in love her, and the Prince decides to torment them so that they may better appreciate the happiness that will come from their marriage. He also sees an opportunity to reveal to the court and his people the incredible patience and virtue of Griselidis. He tells her that the people want him to have an heir, and that they are unhappy with her low birth, and so he has found a young princess to marry. He wants Griselidis to help prepare for her arrival. When she meets the young woman, she feels a maternal sadness and protectiveness, and warns the Prince to be kind to her, because this beautiful young princess would not be able to deal with the sort of suffering that she had endured.
On the wedding day, the Prince reveals his actions. He praises the limitless patience of Griselidis, and offers his daughter to her beloved. Together he and Griselidis prepare for their daughter's wedding.
Commentary
Griselidis Nouvelle is written in verse. Griselidis has only one child, a daughter. There is a preface, in which Perrault addresses the polemic of the ancients vs. the moderns, extolling the morality of modern tales, and of fairy tales in general. He notes the typically female transmission of these stories, as from grandmother or governess to children. This maternal connection is mirrored in the story, in which Griselidis follows her intuition to protect the woman who will be revealed to be her daughter.
In a dedication addressed to Mademoiselle, Perrault states that Griselidis would be too extreme a model of patience, and that the lesson in morality she offers is so ancient that it would likely be laughable in his modern Paris. Nonetheless, he states that one can never have enough antidote to vice, even in Paris where a woman's will shapes society.
In a dedication addressed to Mademoiselle, Perrault states that Griselidis would be too extreme a model of patience, and that the lesson in morality she offers is so ancient that it would likely be laughable in his modern Paris. Nonetheless, he states that one can never have enough antidote to vice, even in Paris where a woman's will shapes society.
Page Range
5-62
Link to Digital Source
https://cudl.colorado.edu/luna/servlet/detail/UCBOULDERCB1~53~53~433486~132678:Griselidis-nouvelle?qvq=w4s:/who%2FPerrault%25252C%2BCharles;q:Perrault%2C%20Charles&mi=2&trs=7
