The Interpretations - Information

There are many interpretations of the classic fairy tale, many of them sexual. Some are listed below.

Prostitution
One of the more common interpretations refers to a classic warning against becoming a "working girl." This builds off the fundamental "young girl in the woods" stereotype. The red cloak was also a classic signal of a prostitute in 17th century France. A Colombian charity recently used this theme in a poster campaign that showed various fairy tale characters reduced to child labour, including Red Riding Hood as a child prostitute [4]

Sexual awakening
Red Riding Hood has also been seen as a parable of sexual maturity. In this interpretation, the red cloak symbolizes the menstrual cycle and the entry into puberty, braving the "dark forest" of womanhood. Or the cloak could symbolize the hymen (earlier versions of the tale generally don't state that the cloak is red--the word "red" in the title may refer to the girl's hair color or a nickname). In this case, the wolf threatens the girl's virginity. The anthropomorphic wolf symbolizes a man, who could be a lover, seducer or sexual predator.

Into The Woods
In Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine's musical Into the Woods, the wolf's attempt to eat Little Red Riding Hood is seductive. In the original Broadway and in many other productions, the wolf costume features an obvious penis. When Little Red matures, she gives up her cloak, deciding she doesn't need it anymore. This can be viewed as deciding to no longer hide from the wolf (representing her own sexuality), or as the literal giving up of the cloak of the hymen, i.e. her virginity.

Transactional Analysis
In Eric Berne's version in What Do You Say After You Say Hello?, the story also deals with sexuality, and is seen as part of parental programming. In Berne's version, the grandfather of Little Red Riding Hood fondled her under her dress, awakening her latent sexuality. It also tells of an intimate relationship between the wolf and the grandmother. The tale can be viewed as a parental warning against adult sexuality, one which ironically thwarts Little Red's healthy sexual development.

Natural Cycles
Folklorists and cultural anthropologists such as P. Saintyves and Edward Burnett Tylor saw Little Red Riding Hood in terms of solar myths and other naturally-occurring cycles (though not the cycle of menstruation, mentioned above). Her red hood could represent the bright sun which is ultimately swallowed by the terrible night (the wolf). Alternatively, the tale could be about the May Queen ritual that represents the coming of Spring, with the crown of flowers replaced by the red hood.[5]