There are very few original story plots that have developed through time, many follow the hero's or heroine's quest outline. The same follows true for fairy tales, the general plot follows the classic scenario of hero saves the damsel in distress, they fall in love and live happily ever after. This is commonly rewritten time and time again in different variations to reflect society and the entertainment produced of a given time period. Stories have evolved from spoken folklore constantly changing from telling to telling. They were then written down and adapted as done by Charles Perrault, and new story lines were invented as by Hans Christian Andersen. These stories were then collected and again rewritten as illustrated by the Brothers Grimm. In current times fairy tales are targeted at children. Disney has provided recent generations with tellings of classic fairy tales that have influenced children and provided them a moral that ends with an "it can be overcome" feeling whether by a pauper marrying a handsome prince, achieving one's dreams, or empowering one's self. The societal hints in Disney's fairy tales have slowly changed through time, the patriarchal effects of society in the thirties is reflected in Snow White. She takes care of the household and only a kiss from the prince can save Snow White from the effects of a poisoned apple. More current influences of feminism is adapted into Brave where Merida decides to make her own path instead of being forced to marry. The fairy tales of the past were originally written for both children and adult to enjoy together. Charles Perrault wrote his rendition of Sleeping Beauty in the seventeenth century to satisfy and entertain the people of France's royal court. It was common for women to gather in groups and hold parties called salons where they would discuss popular matters and gossip. Perrault's "The Sleeping Beauty in the Wood" centers its telling around a moral for women to wait for the right man. Details of Perrault's tale show the impact of making a story relevant as he inserts popular characteristics and topics. Margaret Atwood in 1992 published "There Was Once" which morphs the traditional and stereotypical opening of fairy tales into relevant current introduction. Looking at both Perrault's and Atwood's stories setting, word choice and details show the need to morph the classic story line of a fairy tale in order to make a point relevant to society of the time.           

Fairy tales typically start with the opening line "once upon a time." Tales are usually set long ago in a fanciful faraway land with fairies, ogres, and magic. Accompanied with a moral these tales are used to comfort, and illustrate the good and bad. The playful settings of the stories bring the reader in and captures their interest. Too unrealistic though and the story has no hold.   In Atwood's "There Was Once" she addresses the irrelevance of a story set in the past told in current society. The story never progresses past the opening line as dialogue between story teller and listener is exchanged and the opening of the story evolves. Beginning with with the stereotypical opening, "there once was a poor girl, as beautiful as she was good, who lived with her wicked stepmother in a house in the forest." (Atwood, 406), the story regresses as it eventually morphs into "here" (Atwood, 408). "Here" brings the story to the present. What Atwood is trying to convey is that the effects of a story set in the past would not be as powerful as a story set in present time. Yes, this story happened once upon a time, great, but what is happening now? The entertainment of today is what is happening now, stories are not told in distance times in magical places, they are being live tweeted as it happens. People typically do not relate to people of the past. With technology so prevalent in society and instant gratification so accessible; the past's fictional characters are no longer relatable. 

On the other hand Charles Perrault set his fairy tale in the past. Popular entertainment in French high society were fairy tales. An early written story adapted from spoken folklore, Perrault's "The Sleeping Beauty in the Wood" is split into two parts. The tale begins 116 years or so before the time it ends. Upon her christening a princess is cursed to sleep for 100 years after she pricks her finger on a spinning wheel. After the designated time a prince wakes her and they live happily together. The second part of the story takes place after the prince and princess have married. When the prince is away the Queen, who is an ogre, attempts to eat the princess and her children. However, the prince ends up coming back in the knick of time to save his wife and children. The story explains what did happen. Perrault's story is told to provide a moral to women to wait for the right man to save them, a reflection of the patriarchal society of the seventeenth century. The idea of waiting 100 years for the right man is a depressing thought, so giving women an example of the past gives an optimistic outlook. The setting of a fairy tale gives comfort and relevance to its readers.      

When writing a story the details are what develop it into something more than a stereotypical hero's quest. Fairy tales are ever changing, and for Sleeping Beauty alone there are several different renditions. Perrault's rendition of Sleeping Beauty reflects the popular elements of seventeenth century France. French court of the seventeenth century was all about social interactions and reputation, high fashion, and entertainment. In "The Sleeping Beauty in the Wood" the princess is gifted with all things necessary to become the ideal woman, beauty, grace, wit, musical ability, the ability to dance, all prominent characteristics of a good reputation. As a connection to his audience, Perrault also made a comment on fashion which was an indicator of class, "The prince helped the princess to rise, she was entirely dressed, very magnificently, but his royal highness took care not to tell he that she was dressed like his grandmother," (Perrault, 402). The line about the princess's clothes seems a bit random, but is added to further relate to the intended audience. The influence of a time where a social hierarchy was based on outward appearances and birth are reflected throughout Perrault's tale.   

Margaret Atwood's "There Was Once" is all about changing the traditional telling of fairy tales. The dialogue is designed to be a modern critique of the stereotyping fairy tales provide. Every little aspect of the opening line of a story is altered. Living in a forest is stated to be outdated and changed to the suburbs. The girl of the story is no longer poor but becomes middle class since she did in fact have a home, and gender roles are addressed as well (Atwood, 407). The alterations made to produce such a broad opening line as "here" wholly depict the influence of modern society. Society today is very sensitive, certain details like being "as beautiful as she was good" (406), are no longer acceptable. Atwood's narrators explain, there are too many physical expectations females have to relate to in order to fit in. The stereotypical role of wicked step mother is addressed as well, and told to change to step father as the female narrator then stereotypes the middle aged male population as repressed, violent, and perverted, which would fit the more modern role. Both gender specific alterations reflect the more feminist view of today. As time goes on people have become more and more sensitive to everything. The need to be politically correct is so overpowering that it directly influences entertainment. The details of a story are the window to the time in which it was written. Though the underlying story may be the same as another by making it relevant again it allows for greater impact on readers.                

Both Charles Perrault and Margaret Atwood have altered the traditional fairy tale in order to prove a point. Perrault uses the classic tale of Sleeping Beauty and subtly changes it to fit the Parisian culture of the 1600s. Atwood however, only takes a small snippet of a classic fairy tale but completely alters it to where it become a shadow of itself. Each story carries a moral. In "The Sleeping Beauty in the Wood" Perrault tells the women readers to wait for their prince charming, no matter how long it takes she must wait for the right man to save her. Atwood uses "There Was Once" to explain the differences from today and the past and erase stereotypes engrained people. Through setting, details and word choice both authors successfully capture audiences. Fairy tales though timeless, when edited year after year they provide and outlook on the society of the times. 

