Blond hair has been a symbol of beauty and purity since ancient times. It is often associated with innocence, youthfulness, and naivety. In literature, blonde hair has been used to symbolize different things depending on the context of the story. In this article, we will explore what blonde hair symbolizes in literature.
Table of Contents
- Blonde Hair in Fairy Tales
- Blonde Hair in Romantic Novels
- Blonde Hair in Gothic Literature
- Blonde Hair in Modern Literature
- Conclusion
Blonde Hair in Fairy Tales
In fairy tales, blonde hair is often associated with princesses and heroines. It symbolizes their purity, innocence, and beauty. For example, in the story of Cinderella, the fairy godmother transforms Cinderella's mousy brown hair into golden blonde hair, which symbolizes her transformation from a poor servant girl to a beautiful princess.
Blonde hair is also used to symbolize the antagonist in some fairy tales. For example, in the story of Rapunzel, the evil witch has long, blonde hair, which symbolizes her deceitful nature.
Blonde Hair in Romantic Novels
In romantic novels, blonde hair is often used to symbolize the love interest. It represents their beauty, purity, and innocence. For example, in Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice, the heroine Elizabeth Bennet has dark hair, which symbolizes her intelligence and wit. In contrast, her sister Jane has blonde hair, which symbolizes her beauty and innocence.
Blonde hair is also used to symbolize the ideal woman in some romantic novels. For example, in Emily Bronte's Wuthering Heights, the character Catherine Earnshaw has long, blonde hair, which symbolizes her beauty and purity.
Blonde Hair in Gothic Literature
In Gothic literature, blonde hair is often used to symbolize the supernatural. It represents the mysterious and otherworldly nature of the characters. For example, in Bram Stoker's Dracula, the character Lucy Westenra has long, blonde hair, which symbolizes her transformation into a vampire.
Blonde hair is also used to symbolize the madness of the characters in some Gothic novels. For example, in Charlotte Perkins Gilman's The Yellow Wallpaper, the main character has long, blonde hair, which symbolizes her descent into madness.
Blonde Hair in Modern Literature
In modern literature, blonde hair is often used to symbolize the stereotype of the dumb blonde. It represents the idea that blonde women are naive and unintelligent. For example, in the novel Legally Blonde by Amanda Brown, the main character Elle Woods has long, blonde hair, which symbolizes her perceived lack of intelligence.
Blonde hair is also used to subvert this stereotype in some modern literature. For example, in Gillian Flynn's novel Gone Girl, the character Amy Dunne has blonde hair, but she is far from naive or unintelligent. Her blonde hair is used to deceive the other characters in the story.
Conclusion
Blonde hair has been used to symbolize different things in literature throughout history. It has been associated with purity, innocence, beauty, and the supernatural. In modern times, it has been used to perpetuate the stereotype of the dumb blonde, but it has also been used to subvert this stereotype. Whatever the context, blonde hair remains a powerful symbol in literature.
So, next time you're reading a book or watching a movie, pay attention to the symbolism of the characters' hair. You might just learn something new!
