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In Carolyn Turgeon’s newest novel, The Fairest of Them All, Rapunzel herself relates her story. In many ways, it is the story we all know and expect, of a young maiden, living in a tower in the forest. Rapunzel’s hair has amazing qualities: it is as strong as iron cables, as gorgeous as a summer field of sunflowers, and long enough that she can dangle it out of her high window in the tower and it will reach the ground. In each story of Rapunzel, the details of the hair, the tower, her circumstances for being there, differ.
In some stories, Rapunzel is actually a princess, an heir to the throne of the kingdom seen off in the distance, and she is in the tower, hidden away for her protection. In other stories, a witch kidnapped Rapunzel as a child, and holds her prisoner in the tower. In Turgeon’s novel, the “witch” is actually a skilled healer and herbalist, who rescued Rapunzel when she was an infant, saving her from her neglectful and abusive parents. The “witch” Mathena was once a favored advisor at court, beloved by the Queen, but opinion turned against her with the arrival of a new, conservative priest, and Mathena exiled herself to the forest with Rapunzel. Here, the two women lead a life of constant work to sustain themselves and help other women who come seeking healing and help with problems. Rapunzel loves her life, in tune with the earth, the garden, the plants, the seasons. She loves to hunt with their falcon and her bow. She and Mathena have little interaction with the people of the palace, except in the occasional gossip of the peasant women who see them, or when a group of men pass near the tower as they hunt in the forest. Innocently, Rapunzel watches these hunting parties from her tower window, occasionally singing to them.
Rapunzel has never even seen a man up close, until one day there is a knock on the door, and she opens it, thinking it to be another woman seeking help. Instead, it is the prince, the heir to the throne, who heard her singing, and enchanted, wanted to find the woman whose voice touched him. He cordially invites Rapunzel and Mathena to a harvest ball, soon to be held at the palace. Mathena is coolly polite, but, as soon as he leaves, she sternly forbids Rapunzel to go. Mathena insists that Rapunzel should never visit the palace, never get involved with the royal court. It is, of course, too late. Rapunzel is as enchanted with the prince as he is with her. As the Rapunzel stories all include, the prince eventually climbs her hair to visit her in the tower. Turgeon’s novel, however, is no Disney fairy tale. There is sensual magic afoot here, and terrible consequences that inevitably follow. The prince’s “visit” to Rapunzel is a Pandora’s box that begins a domino effect of passion and love, secrets and sadness, ruin and redemption.
Even though the prince is betrothed to the princess of another kingdom, in the hope that their marriage will bring peace throughout the lands, the prince cannot forget his passion for Rapunzel. Though Rapunzel stays in the forest with Mathena, the prince never leaves her mind, for he has given her a beautiful, painful reminder of their passion…. The magic around her grows darker and more powerful, the stakes higher, the choices more terrible. The prince becomes the King; he and his beloved, pious new wife have a beautiful daughter, whom they name Snow White. The young Queen dies when Snow White is only seven, and the King chooses Rapunzel to be his new Queen. Thus, in this mash-up of fairy tales, Rapunzel becomes the stepmother of Snow White. And we all know where this story has led in past tellings.
Carolyn Turgeon’s latest play on classic fairy tales is more reminiscent of the old stories from the Brothers Grimm than any sparkly, kid-friendly Hollywood movie version. There is sex and death, blood and betrayal, old magic and tangled love. The Fairest of Them All is not a moralistic tale, but the story provides plenty of food for thought as well as a new way to look at the messages in old stories.
Disney or dread-locks? A heart filled with love, or eat your heart out? Either way, Hobo wishes to remind all his fans that his are the goldest locks of all, and he doesn’t need a mirror to tell him that. Cats, of course, have no problem with self-confidence. Remember, Carolyn Turgeon will be visiting Hobo at From My Shelf Books & Gifts on Friday, August 16th!
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