Tatar states in Little Red Riding Hood, “For centuries, farm laborers and household workers relied on the telling of tales to shorten the hours devoted to repetitive harvesting tasks and domestic chores.” It’s in consideration of this statement, that I feel as though the stories of the Little Red Riding Hood tells a story about how things can be taken from a person if they’re gullible enough to listen to the smooth-talker wanting to take advantage of their situation. I feel as though these stories were manifested through the potential hardships of the workers telling them.

Maybe they were under the impression that by doing all this tedious work, they would be able to provide for their families in need. In Perrault’s Little Red Riding Hood, Little Red Cap by Brothers Grimm, and Chiang Mi’s Goldflower and the Bear, she’s taking some goods to her grandmother, because she’s feeling ill. In each case, Little Red is on her way to give them to her grandmother, where she is then devoured. Every good you see such as bread, wine, and cakes eventually leads to the consumer or even back to the person who made it.

I also feel as though Italo Calvino’s version has a theme of consumerism in the sense of “you get something, when you give something in return.” The little girl was able to pass though these thresholds only by giving the items it needed/wanted. However, since the ogress hadn’t given them anything they could use, they became obstacles to her.

Hello! My name is Rachel Mollenbernd and I’m a senior Liberal Studies student with a minor in Child Development. I’m originally from Vacaville, but I’ve also lived in San Luis Obispo, Sacramento, and now here in Chico. When I’m not at school, I’m working at Woodstocks or hanging out at my house with my boyfriend and our crazy, adorable cats Lola and Loca.

Being a reader means taking in any form of writing as more than a list or multiple lines of words, but as a meaning of ideas and concepts that can be applied to many things. Outside of school I read things such as fiction books when I have the time, subtitles to a show when I’m trying not to wake anyone in the house, and receipt orders for making pizza at work. I read in a little more relaxed manner when reading outside of school. However, there are times where I read a little more carefully and urgently. Like when I’m at work or when I’m reading an important notice/document. Reading in and outside of school can connect though. You can use things you have read outside of school to apply to the readings in school through the knowledge and concepts you have gathered. Williams has pointed out the stigma of being a “reader” to me and how that can make us blind to the many other ways that a person can be a “reader.” Especially since there are now so many things available to us to read nowadays.