Brandon Bedore

Rumpelstiltskin Sources
Lotze, Evie. Work Culture Transformation: Straw to Gold - the Modern Hero's Journey.
Munchen: Saur, 2004. Pg 83-85 ProQuest. De Gruyter. Web. 18 Sept. 2016.

In this source, the author is focusing on the lesson learned in the story and how it relates
to the larger theme of transformation in the fairy tale. The act of milling straw to gold and the
poor miller girl rising into royalty are both a literal transformation as well as a symbolic one. The
community is the means in which these transformations were allowed to occur and
Rumpelstiltskins power is lost once the community discovers his name. The source breaks down
each symbol to show that work can turn everyday items (like straw or a poor girl) into items of
great value (Gold or a Queen) as well as the power of knowledge (the communities hunt for the
name) over tyranny (Rumpelstiltskin). They constantly link the idea with that of a modern
company to show the translation of the lesson still holds true despite the lack of royal positions
available.
This source is a great tool for my play because I can focus on this story as if they were in
a business, but not a great one, sort of like The Office. I was also going to point out that
despite the seemingly cut and dry Good vs. Evil this story tries to paint, Rumpelstiltskin is more
than fair with the girl. He gives her an out of her already binding contract and only asks for what
she is willing to give. No one seems to care that the richest person in the kingdom locked a girl
in a room 3 times under threat of death to satiate his greed. The transformation process can be a
big help in twisting the narrative to make Rumpelstiltskin more of a Chaotic Good character
rather than a total villain. The line People work because they hope to make a difference; work is

the quintessential human activity. Having meaningful work is, for many, a greater motivater than
money, title or power. When faced with straw we, like the millers daughter, give up hope. I
think is the perfect motivator for the characters in my play just as it is a motivator in life and I
can play with the ideas of transformation and the problem of greed to really flesh out the fairy
tale.
Zipes, Jack. Spinning with Fate: Rumpelstiltskin and the Decline of Female Productivity. N.p.:
Western States Folklore Society, n.d. Pg 43-52 JSTOR. Web. 19 Sept. 2016.
Rumpelstiltskin is a disturbing fairy tale, not because we never really know the identity
of the tiny mysterious creature who spins so miraculously...It is disturbing because the focus
has centered on Rumpelstiltskin's name and his role in the tale I feel like this aptly sums up
the sources main idea as well as a coupling with the idea of female work. Moving forward, the
author clarifies that while naming something is an important thematic device for an oral story, (as
it adds humor and tension) has no real significance in the literary story of Rumpelstiltskin other
than to place him in a position of power above the nameless miller girl. This source provides a
Pre-Grimm version of the tale so the changes can be acknowledged. The tale is much simpler and
the main difference is the girl can only spin gold unlike in the Grimm story where she cannot
spin at all, or do anything for that matter. Although, the similarity is that both feature a maiden in
distress who can only be rescued from her failure to complete her domestic chore by a male
figure. In the Grimm story, they took this farther even replaced the female servant with a male
messenger who brings the news of the little mans name. Rumple tears himself in two rather than
being cast out on a traditionally domestic and therefore feminine utensil. Even the domestic act
of spinning is taken from her as Rumple, a male figure, is the only one who can help her. The

article then gives context to the origin of spinning and the powerful feminine mythological
prowess that came with it to highlight the value the skill has for feminine work culture.
I think this can also add an element into my play while still working well with the idea
that not only is Rumple not a villain, but it just should not be his story. In terms of
transformation, the miller girl is robbed in the Grimms story, as she is incapable of performing
her domestic act, bullied by her father and her future husband, and robbed of her own ability to
discover the little mans name. She is not allowed to transform unless a male catalyst is present.
It lends itself to a retelling where more focus is placed on the miller girl and the proper scrutiny
is placed on the true villain, the King.
Kelley, Jane E. Power Relationships in Rumpelstiltskin: A Textual Comparison of a Traditional
and a Reconstructed Fairy Tale. N.p.: Springer Science Business Media,
n.d. SpringerLink. Springer Science Business Media, Pg 36-38 17 Feb. 2007. Web. 19
Sept. 2016.
This source focuses more on the individual characters themselves and their cardboard
cutout nature. First up is the greedy king, which this source agrees is a terrible quality for a
leader along with a myriad of others. They touch upon why the Grimms left him this way and
the repercussions perpetrating this stereotype can have on future leaders. This article also focuses
on a different Rumpelstiltskin story so well ignore that and move on to the silent daughter
character. This article actually conflicts with the Jack Zipes article by saying that the daughter
engages in the power of collusion. By giving in to oppressive forces the article suggests that
the miller girl secures financial, social, emotional, and physical benefits out of her situation. In
her silence the article and the Grimms show that in order for poor girls to move up in the world
they have to suffer through oppressive forces silently.

I think this adds an important counter argument against my other two sources which can
help me perhaps parody the structure. It also helps me represent the characters as they read and
less on how they are perceived to be read. Meaning, the greedy king is not really perceived as
greedy or evil because eventually he marries his captive gold slave and puts a baby in her. Now a
budding father, he does what all fairy tale dads do and leaves the story. The miller girl is seen as
a poor victim who eventually wins out. In reality, she is oppressed and treated horribly only to
finally strike upon some luck in the form of a helper, Rumple. The helper is painted as the
savior for a while until his demands become too much for his thrice life-saving gold talent in
which he fairly allows her an out.